John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I raised this issue on the Order of Business on 17 October, as has already been referenced by Senator Devine. I thank the Leader and I thank the Minister of State for coming back and presenting this statement. On that day I asked that the Minister of State would set out a plan. I find this a sandwich or two short of a plan at this stage, but it is a good start. We need to get down and dirty with each polling station that is inaccessible and say what needs to be done and see how quickly it can be done. We saw people get off their bums very quickly when we had issues about schools. It is, in its own way, equally important that people can use their franchise.

I particularly welcome Robbie Sinnott to the Seanad, as others have rightfully done. Mr. Sinnott is in the Gallery and might not be happy to hear this but 30 years ago a woman named Nora Draper took the State to court, so we are not coming new to this. Perhaps people who are dealing with it now were still going to school or were not involved at that time. This is dragging on and on. I named a number of constituencies where there were issues. The Minister of State's constituency would probably come up first alphabetically. I will list some problem polling stations for the heck of it: Castlecomer Castle primary school, Castlewarren Hall, St. Canice's Boys Club, Templeorum national school and Slieverue national school. There are five and I could go through others. We will not do that but it is useful to do in respect of the Minister of State's own home place. He probably knows people in those places, does he not? That is how real this is.Senator Devine referred to Article 29. I find it incredible that a Minister of State can come in here and state, "Electoral law contains specific provisions designed to make voting as accessible and as inclusive as possible" and not mention that we have ratified an international treaty in April this year. That needs to drive the second part of the Minister of State's statement to the House. I am asking him to come back and give an appendix to his statement which will show what actions are being taken. Those actions will never be quick enough for people who are blind, visually impaired or whatever, but what actions are being taken to deal with each and every one of these issues?

Article 29 relates to participation in political and public life and states:

States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall undertake:a) To ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected, inter alia, by:

i. Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use ...

Senators Conway, Devine and Ned O'Sullivan referred to the fact that things are being improved somewhat but that there is a need for them to be closed out and made easier and more accurate for people.

Protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote in elections and public referendums - in secret and confidentially - without intimidation, etc., is the nub of the matter. There are real issues, particularly for people who are blind or visually impaired. I am glad that reference was made to Kevin Kelly, who is now working with the National Council for the Blind in Ireland, NCBI. The point has been well made by Senator Conway. I am delighted that there is engagement with the Irish Wheelchair Association, the NCBI and, hopefully, anybody else involved.

There are still real issues with those templates that pose problems. It is not enough for the Minister of State to conclude, "On balance, I think it is a case of remaining vigilant to the possibility of replacing inaccessible buildings with newer accessible buildings wherever they come on stream." That is dragging one's heels. The venues where people vote must be accessible. It is good that we can find other accommodations for people to vote by post or whatever, but voting in a democracy, in its essence, involves people going into a public place - into the public realm - and casting their vote. This is important for disabled people. It is a mark that they count, not just in the context of votes, but as people in the public space and public realm. That symbolism is very important. People might ask what difference it makes, but we know enough about symbolism in this country. It is important for disabled people.

I accept that am giving the Minister of State a bit of a hard time, but I ask him to come back in a couple of months and show us the templates and plans and outline where he has actively engaged with the different entities. I am not getting the feeling that this is going to be progressed. He is right that, in nine months, there will be at least two elections. There will be another one either before or after those. After 11 years of deliberation, in April the State said it would get this right. Part of the article I read into the record is as good as Irish law. That is what we have signed up to. Let us hold our heads up internationally and, more importantly, let us hold our heads up in Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and every other place where it needs to happen.