David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Is that simple enough to be understood? I respect the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who has fought her quarter as hard as she can. I am not impugning her and support her in all her battles, but this is a Government that has cut back on carers and, by 1 cm, Members missed the opportunity to vote down that mean-minded package. Shame on the House that it did not do so.

With regard to people with disabilities and Down's syndrome, how can Government Members explain, in the light of this self-glorifying motion, that they are excluding from benefits a particular category of Down's syndrome children? This is a new one, whereby people with mild learning disabilities do not receive the same proportion of care. They are taken out instead of recognising the entirety of those with Down's syndrome. Perhaps there is an answer and this has been amended in the past few weeks. Has it?