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.