Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome and it has been very interesting to read and hear her statement, including the success stories. I would like to talk for a moment about confidence. The danger is that people lose confidence. Although I would not say it can be regained easily, it is possible to do so. I had 75 employees in my company when I stepped down who were intellectually disabled. We did not use that term; the term "otherwise enabled" is better. I remember talking to one woman whose son had been working with us for a year collecting the trolleys in to the supermarket. She said she thought he was worthy and capable of far more. We brought him into the shop, he was given responsibility and duties, and he blossomed and grew. We can talk ourselves into believing that somebody who is intellectually disabled is not capable of doing anything, yet this young man came in and became quite a success story. Those who worked with him in that department grew with him as well. They and his customers felt pride in him. It is often possible to have a win-win situation.

One other young man was a trolley host, as we called the role. I watched him at the entrance to the supermarket and, as he got the trolley ready for the first customer coming through, he said, "Oh, there is a cabbage leaf in it." He took the cabbage leaf out and said to the customer, "I want to make sure you have a clean trolley." What did he do with the cabbage leaf? He put it in the next trolley, and so the next customer came and the same thing happened again. I asked him what he was doing and he said they really appreciated him, but that if he just gave them a clean trolley they would not have appreciated it. He was using a different sort of intelligence, one that was really working. I undertook his job for a few minutes and did the same thing. I am told he would use a cabbage leaf on a Monday, a Tayto crisp packet on a Tuesday, something else on a Wednesday and so on. Customers knew that this young man was doing something for them. Although one could well say he was gulling the customer to a certain extent, it was those little stories that worked. I mention this because it shows that those who work with people with a disability feel pride, as do the customers.

One of the big jobs we have is to convince people that it is possible to do something different. Another position I was fortunate to have for a few years was president of the Irish Association of Supported Employment, IASE. They organise a job shadowing day every year and people come to Leinster House. The Taoiseach usually makes a bit of an occasion for them. A lot of good work is being done by people in supported employment, as they are backing up things that would not otherwise have taken place. The participants explore the world of work by shadowing someone as they go about their normal working routine. The IASE points out that the day is an opportunity for employers to promote and encourage an inclusive workplace, and that it can allow employees to demonstrate their commitment to equal employment opportunities. An organisation called Kanchi, which used to be known as the Aisling Foundation, gives awards to employers who have found a way to lift people from that area in the past.

While I am not speaking directly about the tasks the Minister of State has, which she is accomplishing very well, we all have to convince the general public, parents and employers that people with a disability have really got a different ability. If we can only trace and track that ability we can have a huge success. It was great to hear what the Minister of State is doing. There is a lot more to be done and I know it will be done. With the Minister of State at the helm, the encouragement and enthusiasm is there and it can succeed. Let us make sure that, rather than talking people down, we talk them up and give them the confidence.