MEP calls for government to commit to disability policy

An Offaly MEP has warned that a recommendation in the An Bord Snip report that disability policy should revert to the Department of Health and Children from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform would be a retrograde step if implemented. Mairead McGuinness, MEP for Offaly and Ireland East and a member of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Disability, encouraged delegates in their aim of raising awareness of civil, political and social rights and responsibilities during her keynote address at the first International Synod of People with Down syndrome held recently in Dublin. "It would regress years of progress back to the days when disability was seen as a medical problem rather than a social issue. Under the 'equality' remit the focus is on encouraging independence and the inclusion of people with disabilities in the mainstream of Irish life, something that was hard fought for over the last decade," she said. "The 'equality' focus was challenging Government Departments to look afresh as disability, be it access to services, access to transport, access to training, access to a job, as well as to health services. Many people with disabilities are otherwise very healthy," she said. The MEP challenged the Government to restate its commitment to the achievement of the National Disability Strategy objectives. She said that while value for money has to be achieved the approach currently being adopted would not just hurt people with disabilities it would cost taxpayers dearly in the long run. "Public services are being delayed and denied to people with disabilities. This foolhardy approach costs much more over time, be it in terms of longer term medical dependency, a reduction in the quality of life and society having to cope with the consequences of behaviours more challenging for the lack of intervention." Ms McGuinness also expressed concern about people with disabilities still having to forage around for basic services. The synod, involving 14 countries was the first ever international synod on Down Syndrome. It marked fifty years since the discovery of the 21st chromosome, the unique feature responsible for the condition.