“We included this issue in our Leaders’ Address because it is an issue of such grave concern. How can we strive to be a nation of equals if we continue to make it difficult for people with disabilities to engage fully in the workforce? At one time the public sector quota for disabled people ensured many people had the chance of a fulfilling career but with the current embargo on public sector recruitment that option has become far more difficult and alternative solutions must be identified.”
“Everyone in our society must be afforded the opportunity to partake in a career which is both fulfilling and provides the financial means to live with dignity. 150 other countries have ratified the UN Convention yet shamefully Ireland is not one of them. That ratification must happen as a matter of urgency but it must be followed up with practical measures which will provide equality to our citizens with disabilities.”