Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for her presence. I associate myself with the remarks about her commitment and determination to do her job, which is universally admired.

Senator Clonan made a point that what we are dealing with is the rights of disabled people and the rights of citizens who are disabled to receive care and support from the State.

Regarding the proposed amendment to the Constitution, it is to insert a new heading in the fundamental rights section, described as Article 42B. Even though it is being put into the fundamental rights section of the Constitution, no rights are created whatsoever by it, and that is worrying. No rights are actually created by it; it is there but it is not creating any further rights.

Nobody can gainsay the immense contribution family carers make - that is true. However, there are people who, for one reason or another, need care from the community rather than family, for example, elderly people who have no family and disabled people who have no functional family left. Those people are not even remotely addressed by the constitutional amendment. It simply does not refer to them. Rather, it refers to the contribution of family members arising from their bonds of affection or whatever.