Disability Bill forced through the Dáil

THE Government yesterday forced the controversial and much-maligned Disability Bill through the Dáil as protesters at the front gate of Leinster House accused the Coalition of treating them as second-class citizens.

The proposed legislation has been the centre of criticism from the disability and human rights sectors since a previous version of the bill was abandoned by the Government before the 2002 general election.

Despite certain improvements, the new version of the bill remains contentious because it fails to give an absolute guarantee that required services will be provided if a health board has no available funds to pay for them.

Government attempts to bring disability groups on board also suffered a setback earlier this month when three of the nine groups in the Government-established consultation group pulled out in protest.

The National Association of the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland (NAMHI), the Forum on People with Disabilities and the National Parents and Siblings Alliance (NPSA) said the bill was “fatally flawed” and needed to be radically changed.

The move followed a meeting in which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern signalled there would not be any fundamental change to the key principles of the legislation.

However, despite opposition protests, Finance Minister Brian Cowen told the Dáil yesterday that the Government wanted to “get on with the work that is being done”.

“The Government wants to work with the disability community upon enactment of the legislation so that we can proceed on the basis of this modern legislative framework to improve the status of people with disability,” he said.

The Government’s decision to guillotine the Dáil debate and force the bill through was criticised by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who pointed out that there were 100 amendments still to be debated.

While Labour’s Emmet Stagg said the bill was unacceptable, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said “it was built on a foundation of sand”.

Sinn Féin’s Angus Ó Snodaigh said the Government’s failure to respond positively to the many voices both inside and outside the Dáil was “another lost opportunity to define our society as one that is truly based on the principle of equality”.

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) executive chairperson Molly Buckley said the Government had made “some effort” but was still treating disabled people as second-class citizens.

“It is clear they have no real concept of how the flaws in this bill will result in people with disabilities being treated as second-class citizens yet again,” she said.

Independent MEP and disability campaigner Kathy Sinnott accused the Government of bullying its way to passing an unjust piece of legislation.

“The first time they had the good sense to draw back. This time they have the votes,” she said.

The bill is expected to go to the Seanad next week.