Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I second the motion.

I also welcome to the Visitors Gallery Mr. Peter O'Brien, Mr. James Kelly Sr. and Mr. James Kelly Jr. and, of course, Cillian, who is well known to every Member of both Houses as he is a regular visitor to Leinster House.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to second this motion and to make a contribution to the debate, particularly as it comes on the tenth anniversary of the hosting of the Special Olympics in Ireland. It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since that event that so electrified the country and lit up our lives in so many ways. There has rarely been an event which brought communities and people together in such a meaningful way.

The legacy of the Special Olympics has been long-lasting. Even today, as I travel around my county and other parts of the country, I can see the imprint of the event, even in the road signs that declare, for example, Abbeyfeale the host town to Tajikistan or Kenmare the host town to Switzerland. There is considerable pride among those who were involved but it is important that it continues to colour and influence our approach to persons with disabilities in Ireland, now and in the future.

As the House will be aware, persons with disabilities face many barriers to full participation in society - the physical environment, communication strategies, workplace design and work organisation. The design of service provision and public attitudes continue to pose barriers to persons with intellectual disability. Social inclusion means being in a position to participate fully in the life of the society in which one lives and we must continue to strive to promote inclusion for persons with disabilities.

The unique ability of sport to transcend linguistic, cultural and social barriers makes it an excellent platform for promoting and achieving inclusion. That was very much exemplified through the Special Olympics and continues to be so to this day thanks to the work that Special Olympics Ireland continues to do. Furthermore, the universal popularity of sport and its physical, social and economic development benefits makes Special Olympics an ideal tool for fostering the inclusion and well-being of persons with intellectual disabilities.

Some persons with intellectual disabilities are considered dependent and seen as incapable, thus fostering inactivity which often causes individuals with intellectual disabilities to experience restricted mobility beyond the cause of their disability. Special Olympics Ireland helps reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with disability because it can transform community attitudes about persons with disabilities by highlighting their skills and reducing the tendency to see the disability instead of the person.

I am privileged to know first hand the work Special Olympics does through my local club, the Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club in Kerry. The Kerry Stars had its tenth anniversary lately and were guests of ours here at Leinster House last year. One of the greatest impacts of the event was the recruitment and retention of so many volunteers. If we are looking for an example of how to bring volunteers on board and put them to good work, we need look no further than this Special Olympics. I have always been most impressed by the voluntary ethics of the organisation and have always been struck by how these volunteers seem to derive as much enjoyment and pleasure from the organisation as the participates. The Kerry Stars founder said to me recently that, as legislators, we must continue to keep supporting financially Special Olympics Ireland which will send out a clear message that the organisation can help to transform the lives of those who partake and that cannot be measured in any monetary terms.

As we continue to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Special Olympics in Ireland, we must re-evaluate what we are doing, as a Government and as a society, to cherish, and to continue to progress the rights of, persons with disabilities.

I hope, at a minimum, that we can retain the level of funding available for services and supports for people with disabilities. We all know the state of our public finances so there is no need for repetition. We have thrashed the topic to death here over the past few months. I hope, at the very least, that there will be no reduction in the existing level of services and funding for the sector in the forthcoming budget.

The athletes who participate in Special Olympics have shown the true and real meaning of competing. For them, it is not about being first, second, tenth or even last. It is not about scoring a goal or getting a slam dunk. It is about taking part. To see the joy on their faces when they complete in their events is a joy to behold. It is a joy to see the way the athletes interact with their opposition. It is hard to call them opposition because they all seem so friendly. All the while the athletes are competitive and proud of their achievements.

I am delighted to second the motion for Senator Moran. I have got to know her since we started here two and a half years ago. She has always promoted Special Olympics and her son is one of its athletes. She is very proud of his achievements and, of what Special Olympics Ireland has helped him to achieve. It has brought out the best in him. She told me, and I am sure she will not mind me saying, she felt very proud when her son, Cillian, was able to lift his leg to kick a ball because of the support provided by Special Olympics Ireland. I congratulate and commend the organisation on its work and urge it to keep going. We will do what we can, and I am sure that the Minister of State will do what she can, to support its endeavours.