Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On today's Order of Business, I want to raise the issue of a proposal that is contained within a Green Paper on the reform of disability services to medically assess disabled citizens on the basis of their capacity to work. We all know, in the context of the awful scoliosis and spinal surgery scandal in Children's Health Ireland, CHI, that is emblematic of how disabled citizens, both children and adults, are treated in the Republic of Ireland.

Having children on waiting lists for years until they are in extremisis not practised in any other European Union state. We are outliers in that regard, but it is emblematic of how we treat disabled citizens in general. Access to therapies, interventions and surgeries are delayed and are very often absent. Treatment and therapies delayed are young lives denied. Based on the statistics, there are tens of thousands of children languishing on waiting lists for very precious medical interventions. We know this. We have been reporting it at the committee. We have been highlighting it in the news media. We are blue in the face from talking about it.

In this context, the Government decides that it would be a great idea to medically assess the 225,000 citizens who are on disability allowance on the basis of their capacity to work. Who in their right mind would think that was a good idea or that it would help disabled citizens? This is one of the worst countries in the European Union to have a disability, and this is the big idea. Where will they get the medics? At the moment, disabled citizens cannot get to see a doctor, surgeon or therapist. Where is the Department of Social Protection going to get these doctors to medically examine the 225,000 people?

This is a system that was brought in as an austerity measure in the UK in 2008 and which has been thoroughly brought into disrepute. It has led to a surge in suicides among disabled citizens across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, this has been to such an extent that, last year, BBC Northern Ireland did a special "Spotlight" programme to put focus on it.

I want to bring this to the attention of the House. I am hoping to have a debate on it in a Private Members' motion. I must say, I am disheartened to imagine that, at this moment of crisis for disabled citizens, this is the idea that has been brought forward. It makes no sense and it will actually generate a great deal of harm. Disability allowance should be a non-means-tested, universal allowance. It barely meets the cost of disability. It is the right thing to do. It is the humane thing to do.