Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have listened with great interest and humility to many of the contributions and, in particular, from my good friend, since becoming a Member, Senator James Heffernan, who took a difficult decision. He is a person I greatly admire and that admiration will continue. I have also listened to contributions from the other side of the House from Members whom I admire. Unfortunately, not all showed the same dignity of purpose as Senator Heffernan. I certainly have a conscience. I am not going to be lectured by anybody on my conscience in terms of doing the right thing for people with disabilities, because for too long people with disabilities have been used as a political football by party politics and politicians in an appallingly crass fashion. If we can do anything for the dignity of the Seanad it would be to cut out that nonsense because it is appalling.

People with disabilities suffer much in trying to get on an equal footing and to be treated with respect. What does a debate such as this do? It only creates barriers, it does not diminish or eliminate them, because one is trying to create a situation that does not exist. The Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, is probably one of the most reforming Ministers the country has ever seen. She has been placed in an invidious position where nobody in politics in recent times has been placed. She has been forced to find savings where it is practically impossible to find them.

She has done it with a heavy heart because it is not in her nature to cut anybody's allowance. She has had no choice. I have heard people talk about the importance of the respite care grant to caring families. It is more important to some families than to others and it is the nature of universal payments that there are some in receipt of the grant who should not get as much as they do. There are people in receipt of the respite care grant who should be getting more.