Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

I am sharing time with Senator Boyhan. I will speak for 12 minutes and he will speak for four minutes.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for coming before the House this evening. I want to introduce to the House the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023. I arrived in this House just over a year ago and in my maiden speech, said that I had three objectives here, the first of which was to make friends amongst all parties and none. My second objective was to learn, and I am learning. It has been a very steep learning curve in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The third objective was to try to do some good.

The Members all know the reason I am here. This is a journey that comes from the heart of my family and from my son, Eoghan, who is also my campaign manager. We, as a family, have experienced what is like to have a disability in Ireland. Ireland is the worst country in the European Union in which to have a disability. May God help you if you have a disability or if you are a carer here. It should not be like that, and it does not have to be like that. We are the only country in the European Union, for shame, where there is no legal obligation on the State whatsoever to treat, support or provide therapies or interventions to a disabled citizen. That is why tens of thousands of children and young adults are being failed by this State. These young children are waiting years - way beyond the therapeutic window - for speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. These children are deteriorating and suffering life-altering, sub-optimal outcomes on every measure, such as poverty, homelessness and social isolation, to name just a few. It is completely and utterly unnecessary. That is why I am introducing this Bill; to make it obligatory for the State to treat and provide therapies and interventions for our disabled citizens.

I know that the Minister of State is a person of the utmost integrity. I share her frustration at the unwillingness and refusal of very senior people in the Health Service Executive to simply administer and deal with the requirements of persons with disabilities. On the day President Biden addressed the Houses, the Minister of State and I had a meeting with such an individual. At the end of that meeting, I will not give the full quote because there is a word there that is not allowed in Seanad Éireann, the Minister of State turned and looked at me when this senior disability services manager refused to administer a care package to my son and others in our community healthcare organisation. When that MS Teams meeting was complete, the Minister of State looked at me and asked, "Am I challenged, Tom?" This Bill is therefore in the Minister of State's interests and it aligns with her on-the-record statements about our aspirations for disability and all the services that accrue to it.

It is a very short Bill. Part 1 amends the Disability Act 2005. The Government has, which I welcome, made it a right for a disabled person to receive an assessment of need. While there are severe waiting lists for those assessments of need, when you get one it is just a piece of paper. It may recommend occupational therapy, physiotherapy, surgery or personal assistants but you will not get any of those things. Eoghan Clonan has not had any meaningful physiotherapy, occupational or speech therapy for over a decade. As a parent, when we do get the occasional physiotherapy appointment, they measure his deterioration. Can you imagine how it feels as a parent and a carer to see your child deteriorate? We can do something about that in this House.

I believe an amendment will be proposed to delay this Bill for one year. I think that is shameful.