James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom, le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge, comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le mná na hÉireann agus le mná go hidirnáisiúnta freisin. People have been thinking about the women who have inspired them the most. Many of us look to international figures who have had a real impact on the world. I have looked closer to home and thought of my grandmother who lost her husband when she had an eight old and a six year old to raise and a farm of rushes to try to keep from the banks. Some things do not change. She succeeded in doing so and lived to the ripe old age of 97. She was still involved in stocks and shares until she was 95 years of age. She is not the woman who inspires me the most. That would be my wife, who would not take "No" for an answer or lie down under a diagnosis of hopelessness, and devoted her time to rearing her children, in particular our son who has autism. Following a diagnosis of mental handicap and not worrying too much, she pursued and persisted, along with our son, to bring him to the point where he has not just one university degree but a masters, and is now studying for a PhD. Today, as they often do, they are speaking to parents of children with autism in the midlands. There is nothing like seeing someone who has had a very severe diagnosis and did not talk till he was five years old or attend a normal school until he was 11 years of age stand and talk to people. I salute her and all of the women like her.

Last May I published a Bill looking for a national strategy for autism spectrum disorder, ASD. The House passed it unanimously in October or November. I want to ask the Minister to come to the House and advise us of the status of the Bill. It is one of many which the Department of Health has to deal with.The Bill has been passed unanimously by this House and I have no doubt it will get the support of the Lower House. When I spoke on this matter here previously I think 10,000 people had signed an online petition and there are now more than 71,000 signatures. I wish to ask where the Bill is, what is delaying it and to remind the Minister and the Department of its necessity- I know the Minister's heart is in the right place in this regard. There is no question about that. This issue will not go away and I am not going to stay silent on it. I will raise it every single week until I see the Bill in Dáil Éireann.