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THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS have today launched their disability policy, setting out their priorities ahead of the upcoming election.
Top of the party’s list is the creation of a Department of Disability, something party leader Holly Cairns has said is a red line issue for any potential coalition talks after the election.
Speaking at the launch today in Dublin, Cairns said the State needs to move to a rights based approach when it comes to disability, placing people with disabilities and Disabled Persons’ Organisations at the centre of decision making.
Cairns said that before she became a politician she spent some years working in disability services in Malta.
“To come back to Ireland and realise the difference in the provision of services, and how out of reach those services feel to disabled people here and to their families, is something that I find, one remarkable and two, just completely disgraceful,” Cairns said.
On the proposal to establish a senior ministry with sole responsibility for disability, Cairns said this is a “deal breaker” for the party.
“Having the weight of a senior ministry, it won’t solve all of the issues in the sector, but it needs that focus and that attention to be able to actually change people’s lives.
“And so we’re saying, when we go into program for government talks, that is going to be a deal breaker for us. It’s an absolutely essential element for the Social Democrats for future government,” Cairns said.
Fine Gael are also pushing for the creation of a different type of new department – a Department of Infrastructure to oversee State infrastructure projects.
Cairns said today that the Social Democrats do not believe a department of this type is needed, arguing that this is what the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is for.
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Another department that won’t be fit for purpose another minister on a lovely salary that won’t be fit for purpose. Is it any wonder they want more TD’s
@Mick O’K: Incorrect and the usual knee jerk reaction to a plan.
The disability community is the largest minority in the country with 22% of the population.
The present minister is a Junior Minister and Minister Anne Rabbitte has been amazingly successful with the limited power she has.
Escaping fron the Dept of Health for example.
Soc Dems are always disability oriented as are others, Minister Rabbitte would be the first to say, she needs to be at cabinet to be heard.
In all fairness most of the parties are disability inclusive, except the bean counters, they see us as a cost.
A full Minster would be a game changer
All public departments and services should be disability orientated, with a obligation to ensure all disabled persons are catered for, and it should be law.
@Jimmy Kiely: it is. The Disability Act 2005 and Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.
@Paul C: are you joking, public buildings still with steps only ,or if you can get in no disabled toilets,a complete joke
@Paul C: very good Paul, you are right the 2005 disability act is on the statutory books. But the access to all public buildings are far from satisfactory, the toilet facility’s are far from satisfactory and the right to education for disabled persons leaves a lot be desired. It seems to me a lot of services for people with disabilities are given lip service a lot of the time.
@sean weir: nope. Not joking. The op said it should be in legislation. I provided the legislation. I didn’t offer an opinion on anything else.
@Jimmy Kiely: nothing to do with what my comment but I don’t disagree.
@Paul C: And it is ignored on a daily basis!
@sean weir: Sone of the buildings are protected structures and that is a problem. The others, some activists chase up and fight these cases. But we have so many it can be a bit difficut to get them all!
Dunno, we have “department” of transport but it’s done nothing in 20 years. Whats the point.
@Thesaltyurchin: Actually Public Transport is one of the successful parts of disability advocacy.
Nothing to do with the Minister, the Dept of Transport and definitely not the NTA.
Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus and Irish Rail, the CIE sister companies are more disability inclusive than any other in Europe and continue to work with the disability community to do more. It can never be perfect as if it is for one group it will not be for another. So it is a case of trying to balance the needs of the entire disability community against each other. Not easy!
@Gary Kearney: your having a laugh, the best in europe? im guessing you live in Dublin. Try booking a bus from somewhere else. Its a joke. 24 hour notice to book a train to make sure they dont forget to make it possible for you to board the train.
It’s not a disability it’s just an ability to create more bureaucratic nonsense to avoid Ministers being responsible for anything
@Shane Cormican: As a person with Disabilities/Disabled person, I can tell you the truth.
It is a great idea and sorely needed!
although I agree there should be a shortage department for Disabilities.. her party advocated yes / yes in the referendum.. an awful insult to PWD and carers..
@Stiles: There were carers pushing for yes because they knew that it won’t be touched again and you believd that the woman’s place is in the home? Amazing how people still support relics of our past still in the constitution, by the way, Aintú and the far-right tried to say that the word woman was being removed from the constitution, a lie. It was about making the hone-carer gender neutral, nothing to do with sexuality or gender but it won’t happen again so thanks to you were stuck in the 1930′s.
@Brian D’Arcy: I never mentioned about what I voted Brian so get back in your triggered little box.. and i am a carer and I know plenty more none of which were happy with the wording be used referring to the government’s responsibility of duty regarding PWD and their families.. so youre talkin horses bollix there too.
@Stiles: Nothing tio do with disability and the people who bring this up. They do nothing positiv e for the disability community. Except prayers and holy water.
Which do not work by the way. I have enough holy water to float a battleship.
Great to see Israel take the head off tge snake and take out that dirtbag. Keep it going.
@Buster Lawless: ye it was worth the 40k plus civilians killed in the process …. Israel deserve everything they get ..
@Buster Lawless: now now, let’s stay on topic. I know it must be difficult when you’re simultaneously running so many accounts, but you’ve got to try
@Tired Jim: did you know them all? Children and babies didn’t get a chance to learn anything, Don’t be a silly billy
@Tired Jim: you’re not tired Jim, you’re sick
@Tired Jim: Your logic is deeply flawed – not supporting genocide doesn’t mean that I support Hamas
@Tired Jim: innocent children supported Hamas?-Get real.
@Kevin Kerr: lol, kettle calling pot black kevvy or is it kevin today????
@Frank Mc Carthy: oh look, another Buster account is here
@Buster Lawless: you are one odious dirtbag yourself then look at the lives lost to supposedly kill the head of hamas the needless slaughter of innocent children and adults and animals also. Is life that cheap for you that you can’t see the wanton slaughter carried out by the IDF yes Hamas have their part to play but instead of eye for an eye dialogue is a better way forward. Perhaps if Isreal didn’t encroach on Palestinians land they wouldn’t feel the need to defend it by lobbing projectiles in Israel’s direction. So be mindful of your words.
@Tired Jim: What an ignorant statement
@Tired Jim: right enough all them kids were mad about hamas,
Feckwit
@Tired Jim: jeez the racism is absolutely disgusting
@Tired Jim: didn’t realize anyone actually liked jews. remember playing golf in a Jewish club and asking the waitress, sorry jew have the time! lol
The number of cabinet positions is limited by the Constitution, what Dept does she propose is abolished ? SocDems are utterly clueless.
You think a Dept of Disability would not be more important than their Dept of Sport?
Shantytown wants to setup a Dept of Infrastructure. What dept will he abolish?
@Pat Hazzard: we need to have a proper minister of defence.
@9QRixo8H: I thought a department for woke would be her first priority
@Pat Hazzard: You really are as thick as two planks “Pat”.. The constitution and it’s limit on 15 ministers has been broken for years by your pay masters.. FFG have these ‘ super’ junior ministers at cabinet meetings in contravention of the constitution all the time.. What’s one more sure.. and you’re calling Holly clueless.. lol.
We already have a minister for disabilities. Holly Cairns has been around long enough and should know Anne Rabbitte’s portfolio by now.
@Spanner: shows you the impact Anne Rabbitte has made so
@Spanner: We have a Junior Minister as minister for Disabilities.
What Soc Dems want is a full Ministership for the Disability Minister. At cabinet and with the departmental back up that brings.
Anne Rabbitte is a brilliant minister and would have achieved so much more as a full minister!!
We have
Too many TD’s.
Too many Ministers, junior and senior.
Too many bureaucrats.
Too many planners
Too many NGO’s
Not enough of anybody who can do something / anything.
@Antony Stack: We have too many people making broad comments without any credible back up to what they claim!
I know Minister’s that do lots, I know NGOs that do even more.
I even know some planners that are inclusive.
@Gary Kearney:
Members of Parliament v population
Israel 120 v 9.5 million
Nederlands 150 v 18.2 million
NGO number 34,000
further details at
https://benefactslegacy.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/benefacts-nonprofit-sector-analysis-2021.pdf
I can give a preference vote to SocDems just because they’re not FF/FG
@9QRixo8H: another bombshell announcement from you
@9QRixo8H: or SF or the Greens or poxy Labour…
@Thesaltyurchin: well Labour and Greens went into govt with FFG, even as recent as the local elections, so they won’t be getting a vote from me.
@9QRixo8H: Its the worst. deffo want single party.
Don’t we first need a Department to work out how many Departments there are?
have your say