Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice of welcome to the distinguished ambassador with us today. I have enjoyed many pleasant times in his country. I cannot claim to know any Danish, but the Gaelic version of my name, O'Loughlin, is Ó Lochlainn, which means "The Viking", so I reckon I am descended from Viking blood. I also welcome the boys and girls from Tipperary, because I also have blood from the county in me as well. It is always a pleasure to welcome those from that lovely county.

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I also acknowledge that June is Pride Month, when LGTB communities, and their allies, celebrate the freedom to be themselves. During Pride Month, it is important that we all acknowledge, highlight and remember respect, understanding and compassion. On that note, I ask the Leader to ask for an update in respect of the progress of the hate crime legislation, which the Minister of Justice has promised to commit to as a priority. It is needed.

I also extend my thanks to all those involved in the inter-parliamentary unit here in the Oireachtas for all their work in supporting the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE, the members of which were here from Sunday right through to today, for some of them. We had two excellent days of meetings and representatives from 46 countries gathered here in Dublin. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his presence and his words. It was a very successful set of meetings and we appreciate all the work that went into the undertaking.

I turn now to the matter of respect for special needs assistants, SNAs. We have often spoken of this issue. I was shocked to hear from several SNAs across County Kildare how they found out that they will have no jobs in September. Basically, at 4.15 p.m. yesterday, on the website of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, the allocation in this regard for schools was announced without any negotiation or correspondence with principals or boards of management. This is simply not on. The SNAs do a wonderful job in all our schools. We need them and they are a valuable resource in the context of learning. One school now has three SNAs who know they do not have jobs because they looked at a website. These people love their jobs. They want to be there in the school and they are a vital part of the school. This is not the way we should do business.

We spoke last week about the decision to allow PDFORRA to affiliate temporarily with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. It is important. We all sought the same privilege for the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO. I am pleased that has now happened and that this has been accepted.

I also address the issue of the serious delays being encountered by those trying to access disability services. In my area of south county Kildare, I am working with several families who have been waiting for two and a half years to be able to access these services. This is completely unacceptable. In one case, a child needs to be seen in advance of starting school. Due to delays, though, the parents are concerned that there will not be an opportunity to apply for an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, place in the time available. Something must be done about this issue and we need to have a debate on it.