Right occasion, wrong message
A light aircraft circled Croke Park with a message flying from its rear which read 'Thank you, Bertie.'
As an individual who has spent almost all of my adult life working with and caring for people with intellectual disabilities I, and many others, felt that such an act of political spinning had no place at this very unique and special ceremony.
No one can deny the Taoiseach's personal commitment to the Special Olympics.
However, his government's commitment to services for people with intellectual disabilities is not something that anybody should be grateful for.
The FF/PD coalition have placed a virtual freeze on any increased funding for services for people with intellectual disabilities.
The issue here is the difference between the actions and rhetoric of the coalition in relation to their real commitment to services for people with such disabilities.
That is why the sight of such overt political spinning was so disgusting.
Whoever was responsible clearly made their point, but is there no level too low for this government and it supporters to stoop to in order to hold on to power?
The government appeared willing to make mileage out of a very special event for people with intellectual disabilities this was reprehensible.
Our politicians would be better employed if theylegislated to ensure that people with disabilities were given as a right services to ensure they reached their full potential.
Paul Horan,
Lecturer in Nursing Studies
(Intellectual Disabilities),
School of Nursing & Midwifery Studies,
The University of Dublin, Trinity College,
Trinity Centre for Health Sciences,
St James's Hospital,
James's Street,
Dublin 8.
