Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I thank the Irish Women's Parliamentary Caucus for its very detailed motion, which I support.

I will point out a few issues because it is important that we have some consistency in our approach. That is why I will touch on a few issues. I start by saying "Well done" to the Irish Women's Parliamentary Caucus. It has done a lot and it plans to do a lot more. I very much stand in solidarity with its key objectives, which includes making this Parliament a better place but also bringing the lived experience of many women who try to come through various levels of politics and systems within Irish society. I encourage the women's caucus to branch out and look at best practice and other experiences across the European Union. Other parliaments have done amazing things. It needs encouragement.

Some of us have connections in politics, be they through the political party system or the Independents. I hear so many women in everyone's party, and Independents, who say they will not run in the next local elections. When I ask why, they mention the hassle, the intimidation, the social media bit, and the toll it takes on their family and personal life. People can give anything so much commitment, but there comes a point for all of us when we have to ask what is important to us. What is it about for us personally? Does it impact on our integrity? Does it in some way impact on our ability to be authentic about ourselves? These are challenges that we in politics, every one of us from Minister right down, all face. That is something, therefore, we need to address collectively. It is not just for the women's caucus but all of us. Let us reach out to all. Let us not exclude anyone as regards how we can make politics a better place, although I salute and acknowledge the very important work the women's caucus does.

I welcome the motion, which seeks to ensure that people with disabilities have their rights protected and that people are not deprived of opportunities regardless of their background or orientation. I acknowledge that Ireland is in the process of implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I accept that will take time. In Ireland, we sometimes have a problem with being over-reliant on informal care structures, including a reliance on family members to do all the caring.Family members and loved ones do not have a problem with caring, but when they do all of the caring all of the time, it becomes very difficult. I accept that is acknowledged in Senator O'Loughlin's motion. On the issue of gender equality and helping everyone reach their full potential, ensuring rights for those with disabilities is tied up with ensuring equal rights for all of our citizens. Let us not pigeonhole people. These are about fundamental rights. It is interesting. I was coming in on the DART this morning and I saw the gov.ie campaign stating that "disability issues are human rights issues." I thought that was important. There is a strong campaign on our bus stops, bus shelters and the DART. I have noticed it particularly in the past few days. I say to the Minister of State that whoever is responsible for driving that, it may be an obvious slogan and message, but I think it is no harm that it is being re-endorsed by attractive and professional marketing. That message again is that these are human rights, and they are really important.

I have to flag the concern of my colleague Senator Clonan's Bill. Earlier this year I, with many on this side of the House, supported the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023. The Government presented an amendment to delay its introduction, but did not put tellers in place. That was really disappointing and a rare thing to happen in Seanad Éireann. It happened once before in the previous term. It never happened in this term. The Government did not present tellers, so it effectively closed down that Bill and it has been deferred for 12 months. What does that say?