David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I suppose I will have to accept that, but it would be no harm to stick it in , because it is a signal to people with disabilities that they are properly and duly regarded. I will have to accept that, as the Minister of State says, it is covered by the Disability Act.

On the other hand, the Disability Act does not always work. There are places where people do not have ready access for a variety of reasons, including historic buildings with exemptions. There are situations where, regardless of the relevant Acts, people are denied access, including a premises that I take an interest in, 35 North Great George's Street, the James Joyce Centre. It is an 18th century building and it is rather difficult to provide access to it.. At the moment we are looking at the possibility of putting in a lift, but it is very expensive and it would interfere with fire escapes and so on. The building is partly publicly funded but at the moment it is not fully accessible.

The Disability Act does not always work. I urge the Minister of State to cater for these situations and, as a signal to our brothers and sisters who are in wheelchairs or otherwise incapacitated, it should be there as a headline. We should acknowledge it. I call on the Minister of State to think again and to include it for those two reasons. I completely accept that the matter is, generally speaking, covered by the Disability Act. I thank the Minister of State for his response.