Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the announcement made yesterday by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, on the publication of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill, for which I have called on many occasions in the past two years. It will replace the wards of court system with a legal framework to support people in exercising their decision-making capacity in order that they can better manage their personal welfare, property and financial affairs. It will also clarify the law for carers and enable individuals to have greater autonomy, where possible, in decision-making in order that they can better manage their affairs.

Yesterday I raised the issue of the decision made by the four religious orders not to support financially the fund for the survivors of the Magdalen laundries. I read yesterday exactly how much money was in the pot, or how much money they had. We need a debate on this issue now to see if there is any way the religious orders can be compelled to contribute.

I refer to a comment made during a debate yesterday which was extremely offensive to people with disabilities and any person with any knowledge of same. During the debate on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill yesterday Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill said: "The Senator is depriving future Special Olympic athletes of being born." I find these comments absolutely appalling. The amendment under discussion at the time was on fatal foetal abnormalities. It had nothing to do with disability.