Eileen Flynn (Independent)

I rise in support of Senator Tom Clonan’s Bill. All of the Civil Engagement Group supports this very important Bill. I am here five years this week, and since Senator Clonan has entered the House, his passion and determination around equality for people with disabilities has shown and brought things to the table that many of us would not have thought of in this House.

The personalised budget means people will not be told what services they need or what services they should have. They can pick and choose for themselves. This Bill gives disabled people more power and more control over their own lives. Through the work I have done for many years with the Independent Living Movement, every person I have spoken to over the past few years who is disabled would say that having a PA and choices is very important for them. I see this Bill giving disabled people more choices.

As someone said to me in the disability matters committee many years ago, disabled people do not see themselves as being disabled. It is society that disables people with disability. I think that is true.

I know we will look at this Bill again in 18 months, but if we are any way realistic, that means the majority of the term. If we take in the recesses and the mid-term breaks, it is the majority of the term. What can we not do in the six months that Senator Clonan has proposed? Why do we have to wait 18 months to bring this Bill back to this House with the amendments? Why can we not do it in the next six months?

The biggest part of the Bill that I and people who are disabled would support is having choices. Just because you are disabled or have a disability does not mean you cannot make some choices for yourself and, in many cases, all choices. This Bill will provide that people will get to choose what services they want to attend.

I would be delighted to hear from the Minister what the difference is between the six months and the 18 months. What does she hope to do within that 18 months? Does that include recesses? Senator Clonan said it will be December of 2026, but if I am looking at the 18 months as a Dáil term, that is nearly half of our term in these Houses.