At the outset, I join others in expressing my utter revulsion at the horrific antisemitic attack in Sydney on Sunday. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends and the wider Jewish community. During last year's election campaign, the Taoiseach said his party's guiding principle on disability issues is "nothing about us, without us." I happen to agree with him about the importance of that principle. Put simply, it means listening to disabled people, ensuring people with disabilities have a seat at the table when policy is being formed and listening to their feedback about how policy is working. This matters because disabled people unfortunately have a long history of being spoken for rather than listened to. This is, of course, particularly important when it comes decisions that specifically impact their lives. My question is very simple. Why is the Government not listening to disabled people? Their voices are loud and clear. They are angry about and upset by this Government's decision to slash their incomes by up to €1,400 in the budget. The Disability Federation of Ireland has called this a "devastating setback" which "leaves disabled people poorer, unsupported and excluded." It warned that "without urgent change … disabled people will remain trapped in poverty and exclusion in one of Europe's wealthiest countries." The Government did not listen. Last week, disabled people braved the storm to protest outside the Dáil. One man spoke about relying on food banks because he cannot afford groceries. Another woman described having to go to libraries to stay warm. This is a crisis. It is not sustainable. Disabled people are clear about what they need, which is an emergency €400 winter payment. That will still leave people €1,000 worse off, but it will at least go some way towards meeting the cost of food and bills this winter. The question is whether the Government is listening. Every time disabled people raise issues about the budget, all we get from Government is deflection. Investment in services is conflated with a recognition of the cost of having a disability. The Government ignored its own reports on the huge additional cost of having a disability and took the decision to cut people's income, removing one-off payments without replacing them with anything permanent. Many people are full of dread about the future because they literally do not know how they will keep food on the table. Will the Taoiseach tell the people watching whether the Government will introduce a €400 cost-of-disability payment for the winter? When will it will introduce a permanent weekly payment?
Sentiment score: -0.11
The Taoiseach says he is listening but he has inadvertently told us very clearly that he is not. I ask again whether the Government will introduce a €400 winter payment. Investment in services is welcome and absolutely essentially but, with respect, it is not what I am asking about. For example, investment in special schools will not put food on the table, pay bills or pay people's rent. Ireland has the lowest rate of employment for disabled people in Europe and one of the highest costs of living. People were outside the Dáil last week, in the middle of a storm, to protest. They told us how embarrassing it was for them to have to do that. One in five disabled people in Ireland lives in consistent poverty. That was before the Government slashed their payments. The Government is either not listening, does not get it or simply does not want to do anything about it. Which is it?
Sentiment score: -0.02
A permanent costed disability payment.
Sentiment score: 0.00
That is not relevant to what I am asking.
Sentiment score: 0.00