Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that Committee Stage only of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 be taken today and that the Remaining Stages be taken next week. The context for this, which Senator Craughwell will elaborate on, is the manner in which very important legislation is being guillotined. It is not only guillotined with respect to the time we have to debate matters but also by way of timetabling. Even if amendments were suggested and considered reasonable by the Government, there would not be an opportunity to have them incorporated into some of the very important legislation before us. In particular this year, a year of elections, we have a concern that a principle or precedent is being set where we rush through and guillotine very important legislation. It is not a personal matter for us. It is that it is disrespectful to the Houses and the process.

I echo the praise for Senators Carrigy and Ardagh on their very important initiative. I was delighted to be able to participate in the awareness workshop and the little certificate I received has pride of place on my wall. I learned an awful lot from it. We are a big community of carers, parents and disabled citizens but it is very interesting to have an opportunity to learn in the workplace. It is very much appreciated. I hope we can work together on other initiatives in the House. We badly need a fully accessible changing place in the Houses. As the Houses of the Oireachtas, we should take the lead on that matter nationally.

There is a crossover here between the guillotining of very important legislation and disability matters generally. Last night, we concluded Committee Stage of the proposed changes to articles of the Constitution. With regard to the proposed wording of Article 42B, which will go before the people, I have serious concerns that it contains within it the constitutional expression that the family is the sole provider of care, or that it should be the primary provider of care within the State, and that the State has no real role in intervening in caring and supporting independent living in the community. We were given reassurances by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. and Senator Seery Kearney that this was not the intention or meaning. I take those reassurances in the utmost good faith but there is an opportunity to consolidate that in the lifetime of this Government by fully ratifying all protocols of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I ask all of my colleagues to impress upon the Government, if they have any leverage in their parliamentary party meetings, the need to get that over the line during the lifetime of this Government. What a legacy that would be.