Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their contributions and working with me since February to ensure this Bill would come to fruition. I really appreciate the opportunity in that regard, not only because I believe the best fit for disability is in the Department responsible for equality. I thank everybody in the Department of Health, particularly Mr. Barry McGreal, who ensured this legislation would come to pass and that we would get the drafting done. I thank both Houses for allowing the consideration of the Bill.

Senator Flynn is correct that the Bill is only as good as the action taken on it. Senator Buttimer talked about the fine detail.It is underestimated. There is no denying that in the context of respite. The whole focus has to be on having real and clear understanding and guidance to meet the needs and serve the rights of the individual. It is about informing the person and his or her family of their rights and how to access services, and being open and transparent in that regard. There is no point in the Government providing policy and Departments providing money and it going then to the HSE without following the money to see how the service is delivered to the end user, whether in a day service, respite or residential care. It is also about meeting the needs of the individuals. I am acutely aware of the importance of page 7 of the Bill. To me, it is the gospel page in terms of ensuring delivery and holding people to account in that regard.

I look forward to being within the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth because I look at the matter with a rights-based lens. In this context, equality is all about the right to respite and actually the right to live as close to one's community as possible, integrated within one's family and support needs.

Yet again, I thank my drafter for making this happen from February to date. I thank both Houses for supporting the Bill. I look forward to working with Senators in future. When I come to the House from now on, my senior Minister will be the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. I thank the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, for working with me and putting up with me for the past 18 months. I look forward to working with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman.