Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raise two issues, the first of which I have raised a number of times previously in the House with a number of colleagues. It concerns the campaign by John Wall to expand medical cards to terminally ill patients. I listened to John earlier on my local radio station, KFM, on my way to the House. He informed everyone listening that he will hold a further meeting with the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, on this deeply important matter at 6 p.m. today. I appeal to the Minister to have the political will to listen to John on behalf of all those who need this comfort so much, and to change the current guidelines. I am sure this would be welcomed by everyone in the House and, most important, by those who need such a support at such a difficult time in their lives.

I ask the Leader to request a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on an issue highlighted to me in recent months. I ask for that Minister to come to the House because of the urgent need to change the building regulations to make it mandatory to include what are called changing-place toilet facilities rather than the standard accessible toilets in public buildings. In Ireland, there are estimated to be only 15 changing-place toilets, whereas I am told there are more than 1,500 in England, which recently introduced legislation to make such toilets mandatory in new public buildings from 2021. There are 40 in Northern Ireland and the Assembly has given a commitment to amending its regulations. There is currently an online campaign, which I urge Senators to support, to change the Irish building regulations to ensure that changing-place toilet facilities will be mandatory in public buildings. I am aware of a number of families who simply cannot use the facilities currently on offer in this country. Their children and loved ones have grown into young adults and the small baby table in these facilities is simply not good enough. These families are left having to change their children's clothes in the back of their cars or on the cold floors of whatever changing rooms they can find.

I hope we can make a change for these families. Having just 15 changing-place public toilets in this modern republic that we all call home is simply not good enough for those who need our help most.