Hungary and disability advocacy
The Leader corrected himself on Hungary, condemned human rights abuses, and rejected the comparison with fascism. He then acknowledged Senator Dolan's disability work and said Government commitments and increased health investment were part of budget 2018.
Gabh mo leithscéal. It is Hungary. As a member of the EPP, as a Christian Democrat and a Social Democrat, I say there can be no condoning of the mistreatment of people and the denial of human rights. Senator Dolan also made reference to the issue. There is no toleration of the mistreatment of people on this side of the House, ever. The issue of people with disabilities referenced by Senator Dolan is a disturbing and worrying one. I would make the point to Senator Gavan that the Christian democracy I practise has no place for such things, and that the example he has given is not Christian democracy. As a Christian Democrat, one must always uphold the rule of law and have an independent free press and an independent Judiciary. Christian democracy is about respecting people and allowing them to flourish. My party has a very strong record of doing that.
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Apart from sitting with fascists in the same group.
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Perhaps the Senator could go back and look at Venezuela and Colombia and his own party's relationships with people in those parts of the world, if he wants to go down that road. I do not choose to go down that road.
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Let us have that debate if they want.
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I have given my reply to Senator Gavan as a Christian Democrat. That is what I believe in. That kind of behaviour has no place in a democracy.
Regarding the work Senator Dolan is doing on disability, I point out to Senator Murnane O'Connor that it is not just Government work but work on his own behalf, to be fair to him. From long before he came into this House, he has been a very strong advocate for disability. The Government has committed to the disability sector. We have challenges to meet and that is what budget 2018 is about. There has been increased investment in areas around healthcare and disabilities.