Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise an important issue that was highlighted on world epilepsy day last Monday, namely, that 50% of Ireland's population still believes that a stigma is associated with epilepsy and that one in every five people would not hire someone who suffers from epilepsy. This is a serious matter in 2013. It has to do with the perception of people with disabilities and their ability to do a job properly and professionally. The question of people's attitudes would be worth consideration as part of the public consultation process in Seanad Éireann. We should consider holding a module on attitudes and perceptions surrounding people with disabilities in the workplace. Someone who has qualified and graduated and who has the skillset to do a job should not be discriminated against because he or she has a disability with which he or she has always lived and learned to cope.

I will not support the amendment to the Order of Business. The Minister for Finance has made himself readily available to the House numerous times. The latest was last Thursday between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., when he could easily have sent a Minister of State. No one would have argued with him had he done that. In light of his commitment to parliamentary politics and this Parliament's workings, he spent three hours in the House debating the emergency legislation. The amendment is disingenuous.

That said, the issues raised are important. Last week, a constituent contacted me-----