Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator Dolan and his Technical Group on bringing forward this very interesting and important legislation to put some meat on the UNCRPD. It would be remiss of me not to congratulate Senator Grace O'Sullivan on her stunning achievement. I met her on the day of the count and it was looking good at that stage. I am delighted for her. She will be an outstanding member of the European Parliament for the people of Ireland South, Ireland and Europe. Well done to her. It is good to see that all members of the Technical Group are present to support the Bill. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, informed me that the Government will not oppose the Bill, which is very welcome because it will take many steps to create an equal society where everybody is respected and there is equality of opportunity, access and participation, which is what we all want.As somebody with a disability, I am delighted that the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and the Government, a party of which I am a proud member, are not opposing this very important legislation. It is starting here in the Seanad I have no doubt it will pass through the House because Senators see the bigger picture and understand the context and reasoning behind this. However, it will not become law unless it passes through the Dáil as well. I sincerely hope some group within Dáil Éireann will champion this Bill, and that we will see it signed into law by President Higgins.

There are many aspects to the Bill, but I refer specifically to the issue of universal design. We should all aspire to universal design, which removes obvious barriers for people with disabilities. It means a wheelchair user does not have to come up a ramp at the side of the building to gain access but goes in the front door, the same as everybody else. The National Disability Authority, NDA, and its universal design team should be credited, as they have done a substantial amount of work both in policy and in producing toolkits to enhance, enable, and equip building designers to create buildings of universal access. Any message that can be delivered from this House in that regard is positive.

I refer to the sports capital grants, and the equipment grants in particular. I was delighted to see the Cara Centre in IT Tralee received in excess of €100,000 in funding to produce accessible kits which it will distribute to various leisure centres with which it works to enable all children, irrespective of their ability or disability, to participate in leisure activities, particularly swimming but also other sports. Every young person should be able to live an active, fit and healthy life.

I am in total unison with Senator Dolan in what he is trying to achieve. As somebody with life experience of disability, though it sometimes goes unnoticed as I tend not to speak about it, I have some authority in this regard. I absolutely support and encourage what Senator Dolan and his colleagues are trying to achieve in this Bill. I sincerely hope the ensuing debate will be informative and I will encourage the Government to enhance the Bill where it sees that it can do so.