John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is important to honour and respect what is in the public interest with respect to events during the past week and the grave injuries that have been visited upon certain people. The issue I wish to raise is related to that. In raising it again I may be boring people. It concerns the 600,000 people with disabilities and mental health needs and their families. There are strong commitments in the programme for Government to make advances during this Administration. There has been a delay in the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. There is nothing to stop the Government being seen by these people, their families and communities to be cracking on with that work, and there is a great need to do that. There are serious issues to be addressed in the areas of income, housing, education, employment and health. With respect and honour for the issues that have convulsed us, and rightly so, for the past week and that need to be resolved properly and publicly, the Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas must also get on with the work of delivering for people with disabilities and their families.