Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the call by Senator Hayden for a debate on homelessness before Christmas. We have a top expert in the Seanad who can provide us with evidence for the debate and I hope the request will be acceded to. I am a reasonable woman and I have a reasonable question for the Acting Leader.

My understanding is that next week a very significant Bill will be before the other House. It is the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013, for which we have been waiting for quite some time. It will be extremely important in ensuring greater equality and support for people with disabilities. I have invited some of the top technical experts in the country to provide a briefing for Members on this long-awaited Bill. When it is passed, my understanding is that it will enable us to be ready to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; therefore, it is very important that we get it right. My question is about the use of the AV room for the briefing. I requested use of the AV room to allow these experts to brief Members on this very significant law. I received a note back from the proper channels stating the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges had agreed that only school groups could use the AV room up to 2 p.m. and, therefore, my request would have to be refused but that I could use certain other rooms. I am not happy with that answer. My group leader, Senator Jillian van Turnhout, has written a letter to the Cathaoirleach requesting that the briefing take place in the AV room. We have not yet received a response. If there is a problem with the overuse of the AV room, so be it. Let us have a meeting and set up guidelines, but let us use that space to brief Members on important items such as law making. During the recent referendum debate there was much touting on the importance of engaging experts for law makers to help us to do the right thing. Can the decision be amended and guidelines written? Can I at least have my experts in the AV room next week to brief Members on this significant Bill?