Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the context of housekeeping, I am very happy to agree to accept, on behalf of the Government, the amendments proposed by Senator Dolan. In fairness to Senator Dolan, he looks at a motion and tries to identify a way of improving it. Amendments from Senator Dolan are unusual in the sense that they are positive amendments whereas most amendments that happen in this House are usually negative. In that regard, it is always a pleasure to accept amendments from Senator Dolan, which are always aimed at enhancing motions.

The debate has been extremely useful. We have all learned something from it and it is great to get different perspectives from different Senators, different parties and different parts of the country, to hear what is happening at local level to ensure equality of access and participation. There are many stories all over the country of groups that are doing what we are striving to achieve here. They do it daily by ensuring that facilities and participation in various games are available to people with disabilities. Senator Dolan was right that getting to facilities is as important as participating in them.

The Minister of State made clear commitments that participation, access to participation, equality of opportunity, inclusion training and awareness training for people working in sports facilities will now be a priority. Much good work has been done, particularly by the Minister of State's officials and by elements in Sport Ireland, which I acknowledge. That work has laid the foundation. We have a motion from Seanad Éireann tonight in respect of which Members are in unanimous agreement. It will place access to sport for people with disabilities firmly on the political agenda. It is not a political football but it is absolutely a political issue because politics drives change in this country. Politics makes things happen for people. Politics changes society, reflects society and implements the changes that are needed to make society better. This is a political issue. It has now received the unanimous endorsement of Seanad Éireann, which is fantastic from the Minister of State's perspective because, as he heads into the final elements of budget negotiations, he has our motion as part of his armoury and weaponry in negotiating with the officials from the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance, and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and others. We are doing our bit to assist the Minister of State because there are many competing interests in our slowly developing economy. I am of the view that, as we move forward and resources become available, one could not spend taxpayers' money in a better way than on sport for all.

The motion tonight recognises what has been achieved through sport in this country. As was said by others earlier, the GAA has proven what can be achieved through sport. I believe there will be equality and the feeling of equality in the hearts of people with various disabilities, from very threatening and difficult disabilities to small disabilities that happen to make people uncomfortable. Being able to participate in and play sports with one's peers in an equal way will empower people and give them confidence. It will give people with disabilities the belief that they can follow their dreams in the academic world, the world of work, of employment, and of politics, praise the lord. If a person succeeds in sport, it will equip him or her to succeed in many other areas of life. In addition, it is the right thing to do because everyone deserves an opportunity to be healthy, fit, eat well, be active, and to participate.

Ireland is a society which has evolved and developed as a community. We know our neighbours in this country, by and large. We know our parish and our clubs. That is what knits us together and makes us unique and different. The only element in sport that is left to achieve is equality of access and participation, and the whole issue of inclusion of people with disabilities. Going forward from tonight, we have started a new chapter of the political discussion of these issues. I look forward, in a number of years, to coming back to these Houses when we have achieved a huge amount and will be a beacon of hope and light to many other countries and groups.I thank all the Senators who contributed to this debate and I thank the Minister for his time and, more importantly, his commitment to this issue.