Is it two or two and a half minutes?

Sentiment score: 0.00

Go raibh maith agat. Like many, I have engaged with the Before We Die campaign. The meeting I attended in Cork was one of the most powerful and affecting meetings I have ever attended. It was troubling as well but the fierce love of these parents was obvious. At the end of the day, they want to care for their children as long as they can but they are deeply frustrated. I want to acknowledge the fact that a lot of progress has been made by the group in Cork. I acknowledge Deputies Quaide and O’Sullivan who have been working with the city and county councils which have adopted a positive attitude and is making progress on a local level, to be fair. However, the numbers are absolutely enormous. I would never have realised that there are 2,000 adults with an intellectual disability with parents over 70 years of age, and 300 of them are in Cork, with 500 across the State with parents over 80. Some of the circumstances we hear of are heartbreaking. I have heard of cases where people were advised by people in the HSE that if they are in a crisis situation to bring their child to the emergency department and it will resolve itself from there. This should be the most carefully handled sensitive transition and effectively people are being asked to go with a sudden rupture. It is completely unacceptable. It is a profound failure. What parent would want that for their child? It is not good enough. We need to do better. The congregated settings policy may have come from a good place but we are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Sentiment score: 0.10

I am finished now, so it is okay. I thank the Acting Chair.

Sentiment score: 0.32