Party politics and disability transport supports
Senator Boyhan reflected on parliamentary party government and was repeatedly steered back to the Order of Business. He then raised the Ombudsman’s criticism of the continued denial of personal transport supports for people with disabilities, saying reform has been delayed for 12 years.
As I was listening here today, I was somewhat amazed by the contributions. It is always great to sit in on the Order of Business because one sees that varied array of asks, while remembering that the majority of this House is in government. I am always amazed on a Thursday morning to listen to "Morning Ireland" and hear, "Well, usually on Wednesday, they tell you what they are going to tell you at the parliamentary party because of their leaks and, on Thursday, they will tell you what the officials said about it." However, I am not a member of any parliamentary party, so I do not have that added layer of contact. My office is very close to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting room, so I come across sometimes very few or very many on the corridor. That is an indicator of that activity going on in that corridor. What I can say is that-----
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-----it is particularly interesting that one has that other layer. That is not a criticism, and I am learning from the listening and engagement.
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It just begs the question about the effectiveness of being in a party in government.
I will go on. I want to say-----
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Yes, this is the Order of Business, so I will get on to the main element. I am sorry.
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The continued denial of access to personal transport supports for people with disabilities is nothing short of shameful. That is the view of the Ombudsman. He was on "Morning Ireland" yesterday, the great "Morning Ireland" that tells us so much. In his office's latest annual report, the Ombudsman, Mr. Ger Deering, said that he and his predecessors have been demanding reforms by the Government, this Government and other Governments, for the past 12 years. I understood that we may have had a debate next week, but I do not think that is now possible for a number of reasons. However, I respectfully ask that before we close up here for the summer recess, we have a debate with a particular focus on the Ombudsman. He has made recommendations and findings, and it would keep it focused. Disability is a very broad issue.
At the same time, I want to acknowledge the enormous work that the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, has done. She is exceptionally hard-working. There are constraints, and I am being honest, upfront and practical here. The reality is that there is not money for everything all at once, but I do think she is doing a great job. However, the Ombudsman has made a call now and we need to listen to him. I would like if we could have a very focused debate on his recommendations regarding this issue.