John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the matter raised by Senator Frances Black on the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities. I have been involved in it for a number of years. The strategy should have been and was supposed to be launched in 2013. It was launched in the run-up to the last election and it was interesting that the only Department not present at the launch was the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It is very important. I completely take the point the Senator made that there is no funding to go with it. It cannot move unless there is funding and support. It is a matter primarily for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who needs to come to the House and show how it going to be moved on.

Senator Joe O'Reilly referred to the action plan on housing. We had a motion with great support last week on housing for people with disabilities. I expressed my disappointment yesterday on what was in the action plan but I agree with Senator O'Reilly that the Minister should come here on a regular basis. There needs to be a module in that regular discussion on housing for people with disabilities.

Senators Craughwell and James Reilly raised the issue of the titles "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist". Both are valid professions, but physiotherapists as we know them have a battery of integrated skills. One cannot expect people to know the difference between one and the other. It is vital that the title of "physiotherapist" be protected.

As a novice Member, my thanks, along with that of many others, are due to the support of the staff who took us, and certainly me, by the hand as if it was my first day in school, which it was in many ways. In my best Romanian, I wish the Cathaoirleach la multi ani.