Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone here and especially thank and commend my colleague, Senator Mark Daly, on having done fantastic work over recent months and on having fought on the issue for a number of years. I also thank Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee for the outstanding work she did with Senator Daly on this. I thank all Senators here, my Independent colleagues and members of the Government, Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party. Did I leave anyone out? No. It is a very important day for members of the deaf community. I thank the deaf community for its resilience, vision and courage and for sticking with it. I know we have had many differences in the past, but I was trying to get the legislation through the system. There were many occasions when I understood exactly where they were coming from, and we acknowledge their magnificent work, particularly when they worked very closely with Senator Daly and his staff. I commend Senator Daly's backroom staff and team, who did fantastic work. Back to my side of the House, I commend, thank and pay tribute to Deaglán Ó Briain here and my disabilities adviser, Gerry Maguire, who has put in the hours and the work over recent months.

These are very important issues and this legislation is hugely important. Many Senators talked about it earlier. For me, it was always a civil rights issue and an equality issue and was always about the rights of the deaf community. At the same time, I emphasise that the important thing is that when we pass legislation dealing with the issue of rights and equality, we must ensure that resources or funding are put in place as well. This is very much an important part of the reason we have got through the process over recent months. Again, I thank Mr. Ó Briain, Mr. Maguire and the various Departments that worked together very closely, namely, the Departments of Education and Skills, Health, Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and Justice and Equality, because they were very much on our side. Despite some difficulties along the way and some lively debates, it is important that this day has come. Again, I thank everyone directly involved in the whole process.