Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I support the motion tabled by the Independent Senators and I compliment them on such an appropriate motion. I am reminded of a song about the 1913 lock-out led by James Connolly which referred to giving little in case they would ask for more. The disability area has been neglected for years. I accept that some progress has been made in the past 20 years but it has been insufficient legislatively or financially. I live in Bantry, next door to CoAction West Cork, which started off as St. Joseph's. The Minister of State is aware of the facility which she visited recently. In my first local authority election campaign in 1985, I visited the house of a family I knew well. Being anxious to get into the house and perhaps being somewhat nosey, I saw an adult in a pram - someone who had never been exposed to the public. Whether that was through embarrassment or a stigma, that person never saw the light of day and died many years ago. It was a frightening scenario.

When St. Joseph's started in Bantry it was completely voluntary for many years and it raised money through collections and so on. It expanded its services and now between young people and adults it probably has 300 clients. CoAction has gone into the Beara Peninsula and throughout west County Cork. It is covering areas out to which COPE was not able to reach. Approximately 15 or 20 years ago when feelers were put out to establish whether there were any people with disabilities in the Beara Peninsula, initially nobody came forward. However, when it provided a service, all of a sudden 26 adult people were in the loop. It shows that we have come from an intolerable situation in the 1970s and early 1980s and much progress has been made.

Senator Moloney referred to the legislative changes and I accept what she said in good faith regarding that. However, there is a question about funding for people with disability. They have been neglected historically by several governments, including those involving my party going way back. We must ensure there will be no rowing back in funding. We have made progress on an issue from a zero start. It is critical for the Minister to take to Cabinet that what is being given by way of financial services to groups representing people with disabilities must be not alone maintained but also expanded.

I note Senator Moloney's fears about not supporting the motion tabled by the Independents. She gave two reasons, one being her fear of losing the whip. I lost the whip on two occasions in my political lifetime. The outcome was that it garnered me great respect within my party and for a change I called its bluff. When I was on the Government side of the House I had no problem taking on Ministers who were party colleagues on a number of occasions, whether it was parochial issues to do with Bantry Hospital or fisheries. During debates on Bills covering fisheries and harbour boards I tabled a substantial number of amendments against a Minister from my party, which in the past 12 months has not happened with the Government side. Sometimes that must be done - Members need to show their mettle and take them on. While I understand her reservations, if Senator Moloney is serious about an issue, there is nothing shameful from time to time in taking on her own party and standing up, in this case, on an issue on disability if she feels strongly about it.

Unfortunately I was unable to attend yesterday's briefing for a number of reasons - the Seanad was not sitting and I had to attend a funeral in Cork last night, which would have entailed travelling to Dublin and then going back down. I am probably living further from the capital than Senator Moloney.