Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fíor-chaoin fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sé gnóthach, ach sílim go bhfuil an cheist seo iontach tábhachtach.

This is an important question that arose during the election recently. It was brought to my attention that there were a number of persons with a disability who were being cared for, either in a HSE home or a group home in a residential setting, and I wanted to find out what was the facility put in place for them to cast their vote in the presidential election and the referenda. Some of these people encountered a difficulty in that there were no staff available to bring them to vote and they had to contact relatives to try to facilitate them.

It is a serious issue, first, that we recognise the rights of such persons to go out and vote in any election of whatever kind. It calls into question how these group homes and residential homes are being run. If, for example, the home has been contracted out to a third party organisation under the auspices of the HSE, how can the Minister, and then the HSE, safeguard the right of those persons to be able to cast their vote and have their democratic say in whatever election is taking place?

Sin í an cheist atá á chur agam. Táim ag cosaint na gceart atá ag daoine le míchumas atá ag fanacht i dtithe faoi scáth an HSE nó eagraíochtaí atá ag fáil maoiniú ón HSE maidir leis na cearta atá acu chun vótáil i dtoghcháin agus i reifrinn. Ba bhreá liom freagra an Aire a fháil i leith sin.