Eileen Flynn
Administrative Panel · Independent · Ireland
“Today, I want to make it very clear that using the platform of a Senator to imply that Traveller problems can be solved by extra patrols and public warnings is not courage.”
“This Senator has years of experience and apparently is all about equality and equality for the Irish people, but obviously not for Irish Travellers. Members cannot use their platform in these Houses to promote hate towards our community.”
“Travellers know what it means when politicians make a habit of standing outside our sites, pointing cameras at our homes and speaking as though true criminality is somehow written in our blood. When a Senator invokes Garda patrols in the same breath as warning Travellers, it does not feel like a concern for safety.”
“I want to bring to the attention of the House that this week is Traveller Pride Week. It runs from 18 to 29 May. Events will be happening up and down the country. We are hoping to have an event in Leinster House in two weeks' time with the Traveller committee. It will be a meet and greet with members of the Travelling community.”
“I welcome this motion and thank the Fianna Fáil Senators for bringing it forward. I notice there are few men in the Chamber. We need men to be part of the discussion of this issue. I want to highlight that. The zero-tolerance strategy committed to delivering at least 280 refuge spaces by 2026.”
“We need protection for women. I have had to put safety measures in my family home where I am trying my hardest to rear two lovely children. I am never going to be the same public representative that I was four weeks ago. The Garda has been absolutely brilliant.”
The complete record
Every one of 228 lines we hold for Eileen Flynn, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 5.
“I move amendment No. 22: In page 5, lines 4 and 5, to delete “Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material Act 1998” and substitute “Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Abuse Material Act 1998”.”
“I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, lines 24 and 25, to delete “Child Sexual Exploitation Material” and substitute “Child Sexual Abuse Material”. These amendments replace the words "child sexual exploitation material" with "child sexual abuse material" throughout the legislation. No individual definition is required as the amendments implement the core purpose of updating this legislation. It is best practice, etc.”
“I am aware the Minister of State is not opposing these amendments, but I also want to put on the record that we have done what was asked of us by the Department of justice. As Senator Boyhan said, I am as broad as I am long coming in here and getting it to this stage, and not having 100% commitment from the Government is a bit disheartening. However, again, we did our work and I am delighted the Minister of State is not opposing these amendments. I do want to be very clear that it will not cost the State anything and, if anything, the Government will leave a good, positive legacy behind. It is simple and effective.”
“It is great to hear the Minister of State is not opposing the amendments in this section. It is important I am very clear. Amendments Nos. 2, 4, 22, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34, 37 and 43 were addressed at the previous debate with the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, and, since then, we have got support. We have been through these amendments with a fine-tooth comb. We know there will be no cost to the State and it is the right thing for the State to do. Language is of extreme importance. The only difference this is going to make is that judges will not have to use the term “child pornography” in courtrooms anymore. They can say how it is, and that is child sexual abuse with materials. It is so important we are clear.”
“I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, lines 22 and 23, to delete “Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material Act 1998” and substitute “Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Abuse Material Act 1998”. Most amendments in this group are routine title updates, apart from amendment No. 43, which expands the scope beyond simple changes. We would be interested in hearing the Minister of State's reply on amendment No. 43 as well as the other amendments in the grouping. The others are no-brainers. I cannot come up with a speech and talk about the Bill when the Bill literally does exactly what it says on the tin. I cannot stress that enough. These amendments are doing that as well by changing the term "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material". It is literally four words. I cannot find bigger things to be saying. Amendment No.”
“I thank the Minister of State for accepting our amendment. Just for his and other Members' clarity, if this amendment is accepted, it changes the definition for judges as well. Many solicitors who go into these cases do not want to be using the term "child pornography". They want to call it exactly what it is, that is, child sexual abuse material. I want to be very clear on that. As other Senators have said, the definition aligns with the EU directive. It is also recognised at a global level.”
“I begin by thanking Jessica Bray, Emer Taylor, Carolyn Farrar and my Civil Engagement colleagues. I thank Colm Gannon, the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland, the Children's Rights Alliance and MECPATHS. I thank Jamie Connolly from the Bills Office. I also thank Corey O'Hara for all his hard work on these amendments. This grouping of amendments does exactly what it says on the tin. It calls out child abuse for what it is. I hope the Minister of State will accept the amendments in this grouping. As I said, it was done in line with civil engagement organisations and individuals who have been victims of child sexual abuse material.”
“I know the Government is accepting all the amendments to the Act. It is not opposing any of the amendments today. We are absolutely delighted with that. This Bill and all the amendments we put forward were done in line with the Children's Rights Alliance, the Rape Crisis Network, MECPATHS and other children’s organisations. We have addressed all the elements the Government was worried about on Second Stage. I want to move and withdraw the amendments because they are being accepted so it should not take all that long. I want to thank people but I do not know if I can do this now. Do we go straight to the amendments or can I talk for a minute or two?”
“I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “ “child sexual abuse material” means any visual, audio, textual material, digitally-generated or artificially created material that depicts or otherwise represents a person who is, or is depicted or represented as being, a child and who is engaged in or is depicted or represented as being engaged in real or simulated sexually explicit conduct, or any visual representation of the sexual organs of a person who is, or is depicted or represented as being, a child, for primarily sexual purposes; “child sexual exploitation material” has the same meaning as “child sexual abuse material” in this Act.”. I will be withdrawing the amendment to bring it up on Report Stage.”
“Other Members have spoken about people living outside the country who left because of ill treatment at the hands of the State. For them to only get €3,000 is not on. I hope the Department will consider this and value people who moved outside the country with equal respect. I can say no more, except that we support Senator Boyhan. These survivors in later life are only looking to be treated with dignity, respect and equality of opportunity, something they were denied as young children. Again, I thank Sheila and Catherine for sharing their experience with us over the years. I thank the Minister for bringing forward this very important legislation.”
“In another part of the letter that Catherine wrote she said the Irish State should treat the survivors of industrial schools and their dark history with the respect it deserves and put an end to the suffering so they can all move on and make the best of the little of life they have left. The childhood of these women and their lives were taken away by the State, unfortunately. Catherine also speaks about how her human rights and equality were taken away as a child and sets out what the survivors are looking for. Senator Boyhan has in the Bill, which the Civil Engagement Group supports, equal access so people can have basic care now in their older age, something they never got as children. All they are looking for is basic care with regard to health, education and social housing.”
“At Traveller events many women speak about the bogeyman, as they did years ago, when Travellers lived on the sides of the roads. Even when I was growing up, my mother would tell me to be good or the bogeyman would come and get me. Travellers have always been failed by the social care system in Irish society. Still today, sadly, there are Traveller women in prison who have no access to their children. They were also failed in mother and baby homes, as Catherine rightly states. I know Catherine is a proud member of the Traveller community herself. One thing about Sheila and Catherine is that they do not make it all about themselves.”
“I am privileged to support the Bill and I thank Senator Boyhan for all his hard work. He said something important to me which I had never really thought about. This was that there are victims walking the corridors of Leinster House. Behind us we have Catherine and Sheila, two very powerful women. I have worked with them for many years on institutional abuse and the mother and baby homes. We must be clear that while financial compensation is necessary, no amount of money can repair the damage done to those who suffered in these institutions. What survivors often describe as being equally important is being heard and believed and their experiences being acknowledged. Catherine Coffey has given me a letter, as she has to many Members. Several parts stand out for me. Many Traveller children were taken, never to be seen again.”
“Nothing has improved in terms of Traveller accommodation, Traveller health in general or Traveller education. If anything, things are getting worse for the Traveller community. I call for a debate. This is about holding the Government to account for not implementing the health strategy, including mental health, for the Traveller community. Every single week, we hear of these tragedies. If Members are on social media, they will see them, too. For young children, young people and older people in the community, it is a crisis. If the level of suicide amounted to one in every 11 deaths in the settled community, it would be named a crisis. Within our community, it is a crisis. I hope my colleagues support my call for a stand-alone debate on the lack of implementation for the Traveller community. Who is to be held accountable?”
“There was a debate in this House on mental health two weeks ago. Today, I call for a debate specifically on Traveller mental health. In the past week and a half, I know three members of the Traveller community who have died by suicide. One young girl of 15 years of age passed away through suicide. These are not just numbers; these are real young people in our community who have their whole lives in front of them but feel so worthless within society that they decide to take their lives. We have a mental health crisis in the community. The Minister of State's responsibility for mental health services includes Traveller mental health. I have been in the Seanad five years this month. In that time, not one thing has improved regarding Traveller mental health.”
“I am very proud to see Senator Stephenson standing up in order that the pressure is not all on the members of the community.”
“I am looking for a debate and accountability from the Government for the failures in delivering in respect of Traveller accommodation, Traveller mental health, Traveller education, which is really important, and employment for members of the Traveller community. I know the committee has been set up and will meet tomorrow. I wish the Chairperson every success, and I look forward to being a passionate Vice Chairperson on that committee. I will be putting myself forward for Vice Chair. However, actions speak louder than words. We could wallpaper both Houses with legislation and policies that are meant to make Travellers' lives better. The problem lies with lack of implementation. I call for a debate in this House to allow for statements from everybody who takes part.”
“The manager told me there was a job going and that I would be absolutely brilliant for it. I put in my CV and as soon as they saw my address, that job was no longer going. When I first moved to Donegal, I put in for numerous jobs. My CV outlined the work I had done through the Irish Traveller Movement, Pavee Point and various women's organisations. Straight away, I was discriminated against. That is not too long ago. It is still happening today for members of the Travelling community. There are many Travellers working in our health system and in our education system as teachers and principals in schools. People are afraid or ashamed to express their identity because we have to do what we do to survive. To live in that state of shame in today's society is absolutely not acceptable.”
“As Senator Stephenson said, this is Traveller Pride Week. Many members of the Traveller community and many children within the Traveller community have fewer opportunities to be successful within Irish society. Last week, a study showed that young Travellers start off on a very good footing and it is all positivity when they go into primary education. However, by the end of primary school, they say they are not good enough to be in education. I know exactly what that feels like, namely not feeling good enough coming through the education system and not feeling good enough when applying for a job. Yesterday, I was in Jobstown speaking to teachers about the yellow flag programme and talking about some of my experiences. I worked in a nursing home in Chapelizod for three weeks on work experience from Ballyfermot College.”
“There is a sense that people who do the crime do the time and that kind of thing and people should be given a second chance. We have seen the provisions in this Bill work in other parts of Ireland and in other countries. I understand this Bill will not be accepted this evening. We look forward to debating this legislation again and the Minister's office really taking it into consideration. We know the Minister's heart is in the right place when it comes to justice but justice is not just for one certain set of people. It is also for people going through the system.”
“I second the motion. I thank Senator Ruane and her office for bringing forward this important legislation. As the Senator said, this issue does not impact on many people within Irish society but it will have an impact on people seeking parole. I support the Bill as it will bring fairness and justice. As a member of the Traveller community, a minority group, I know how unfair the justice system can be to people from minority groups. Earlier today, Senator Ruane and I discussed how some people do not understand what is written on a search warrant. This legislation is very straightforward. It gives a person the opportunity to again participate in society and build up trust in society. We do not talk enough about this issue.”
“All our young people need is respect and equality of opportunities. That does not just lie in the hands of the Minister for Justice; it requires a collective approach around health, mental health, addiction, education and employment. At present, 86% of the Traveller community is unemployed. If people could have a good quality of life and have the same opportunities to work and education, etc., we would not have some of these issues in our community. It is about investing in the communities. Prevention is better than intervention. It is poverty. We need a collective approach to stop crime without blaming the young person. The Government needs to take a degree of responsibility as well because of the level of failures we have had for young people in this country for many decades.”
“I have worked with young people in the past and the programmes have worked in areas like Ballyfermot, but I am begging that we invest in our youth organisations to work with our young people. Prevention is better than intervention. Who are we to say that because they are Traveller children their lives matter more or less than a white, settled child? That should not be the case. For me, this is extremely personal. I see well-reared children's mothers praying night and day that they will not get involved with gangs or drugs. It is unfortunate that they often do. It is migrant children, Traveller children, children with disabilities, children who feel like they are lost causes within these communities. We need to invest in these children. It should not matter what part of the country they are from, whether it is Cork, Tallaght or Donegal.”
“It is a vicious circle. I am talking at a personal level because it is the best way that I understand the situation. It is the only way I can get people in this House to understand. Some of us get lucky; some of us do not. My brother and I had the exact same upbringing. He had the same opportunities in life as me. He is a few years older than me. He weighs about 5 stone at the moment. He is strung out on drugs. He is a fine, good-looking young man with five children. His situation is the result of the lack of opportunities he got. There are many more young people like him in areas such as Ballyfermot and Donegal, and elsewhere up and down this country. Garda-led youth diversion programmes can work.”
“He could turn a car inside out as a mechanic. Traveller children are extremely educated when it comes to practical work but they are failed by the system. They are failed before they complete primary school. So many young Traveller children just fall through the gaps. The same is true of migrant children and those with learning disabilities and additional needs. A youth service is not a luxury for a young person. In some areas, it is a lifeline that can save children's lives. I do not know where I would be today. There are nine of us, and I was the one who got lucky. I have a brother who is a really bad drug addict. I have so much addiction in my family. I was able to escape poverty because of the quality of the opportunities available to me. Some members of my family did not have the same opportunities. My nephews did not.”
“I have two children and I pray to God every day because I see addiction in my own family. I have relations, young men, in Mountjoy Prison at the moment. That is not something of which I am proud. It is not something of which their mother and father are proud. Nobody rears their children to get involved in criminal activities. We must all take responsibility, and not just the youth workers who are underfunded. I am a qualified youth worker. Yesterday, I met a group of young Traveller students and youth workers. A young Traveller man asked me who Michael D. Higgins was when he saw a portrait of him on a wall. The man asked if Michael D. Higgins was the Taoiseach and I told him he was not. I made this point earlier on a Commencement matter relating to education. It is a failure of the system when a 16-year-old cannot recognise the President.”
“When you are judged by society because you are different, it is hard to book a table in the local café for you and your friends. I read a quote on social media that stuck with me. It stated that if young people believe they do not belong in a village, they will burn it down. It does not make it right, but that recognises the importance of the sense of belonging and community. I mean no disrespect to the Government or anyone else, but it needs to be said that we are failing children and those in the margins of society through education, mental health services and addiction services. We forget about the young people I see in Ballyfermot on a daily basis who are addicted to drugs. The lives of young men and women, and their families, are absolutely destroyed.”
“There is a national Traveller youth group called Involve that works in the midlands, Donegal and all over Ireland, along with the Exchange House service. Again, there is a lack of funding and investment by the Government. The Irish Traveller Movement has a powerful youth-led programme at the moment to deliver youth work on the ground for young Travellers nationally. Poverty is the root cause of young children becoming involved in crime. I know exactly what it is like, as do many others in the Travelling community, to suffer exclusion at the hands of society and the State. This morning I introduced a Commencement matter relating to the reduced timetables for Traveller and Roma children, and children with additional needs, including those who are autistic. Many children can fall into crime because they are desperate to fit into a community.”
“I will come at this issue from the angle of poverty and ethnic minorities, and people on the margin of Irish society. I would not be where I am today if it was not for my local youth service in Ballyfermot and its youth workers, Gerry McCarthy and Janice McGarry. For years I was member of a youth forum and I was politicised through the work done by the youth forum. Even back then, youth organisations struggled. In 2011 or 2012, there was a dramatic cut in funding for youth organisations. That funding was not re-instated to organisations like the Ballyfermot youth centre and the family-based youth project in Ballyfermot, and the Garda youth diversion programmes in places such as Ballyfermot and Donegal. A Senator who spoke previously said that there are few or no youth groups for the Traveller community. That is not true.”
“I welcome the students from St. Cronan's Senior National School. Their visit will be the first time I can tell a group of students they do not have any homework today. It is absolutely brilliant to give them a day off from it. We hope that the students make the most of their visit. I hope that at least one of them will end up in here in the future as a politician, and maybe not in the Seanad but in the Dáil. I wish them every success. They will have no homework this evening. Enjoy the rest of your visit to Leinster House. Before suspending, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, to the House. Even though he did not get to reply to the Commencement matter, it is a privilege for me to see him here as a Minister of State as I served with him in this House in the last term.”
“If it works, it will be very effective and will make a lot of changes for young children within our community. However, it is not good enough. We and the Department of Education need to put in stronger measures to make sure that children with additional needs and children from the Traveller and Roma communities are not being pushed aside any more. My wee girl is five years of age and is able to name Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to me and to name the President. My child is very privileged and she is a member of the Traveller community. It is unfortunate that we have 16- and 17-year-olds who have not had that opportunity. It is a failure of the Department and the State. I look forward to working with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, moving forward, and hopefully we can come up with a solution that stops it.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Yesterday, I had a group of young Travellers with a youth service in here. It honestly broke my heart when a young man asked what Leinster House was. I tried to explain to him. He looked at the portrait of Michael D. Higgins on the wall and asked whether he was the Taoiseach. I told him no, that Micheál Martin is the Taoiseach - trying to educate young children within the Traveller community. I see these young children constantly being failed by the education system and we are talking about 15 and 16-year-olds who are on reduced timetables and who are colouring in pages for homework in leaving certificate year. I understand the education strategy and I thank the then Minister, Deputy Foley, who at the time supported Pavee Point to introduce it.”
“A child should not be denied an education because of his or her behaviour, however. I see this issue arise many times on the halting site in Labre Park, Ballyfermot. Mothers are coming to me saying that their child can go into school for one hour and then come home. The parents do not know what to do with the young people for the day. They have no supports at home. When is this going to change? It is the children on the margins of society who are impacted again. While 1,275 may be a small number, it is a lot of children from a population that makes up 1% of Irish society. It is also a big number of children with additional needs. What is the Department going to do to resolve this issue and inequality for these children?”
“For me, seeing this report is frightening, as it is for young members of the Traveller community and for children with additional needs. The report talks about children with autism who are also impacted by the reduced timetables. In the past five years I have been a Member of this House, I have sat on the education committee. We have seen numerous reports in which members of the Traveller community and children who are autistic are put at a disadvantage in this country. We need to be moving away from that. What is the Department doing to stop children from the Traveller community, the Roma community and children who are autistic from being on these reduced timetables? I understand some children need to be on reduced timetables. That is understandable. I was an SNA and I know all about behaviours and so forth.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning to address what I believe is a very important issue that was raised recently by the journalist Maria Delaney, a reporter with The Journal . Her report showed that the number of pupils on reduced timetables has increased to 1,275. This is something that is very close to my heart as someone from the Traveller community who came through the education system, was put down at the back of the class for Irish and was taken out when there was a Traveller teacher, who was not a member of the Traveller community, and who went through special education, which every member of the Traveller community received whether they needed or not in the school I attended in Ballyfermot.”
“It is absolutely appalling this has happened. I understand there is nothing the Leader can do about it, but I want to put my concerns on the record and address the Government and Labour Party. While many people will be surprised at the Labour Party, I remember what it did to people on the margins of society when it was in government. This is another example of that.”
“He provided me with a few words saying that Deputy Lawlor is now the Chairperson of the Traveller committee and to basically speak to him. The Government failed as well. I will not use the word 'lied', but they misled the public in saying there was no opposition to the Traveller committee being formed using the d'Hondt system. It is my understanding that at the meeting of the Business Committee on the formation of the committees, even Government TDs said members should take the opportunity to decide, as they did the last time, without using the d'Hondt system. It is brilliant that the Traveller committee is a standing committee as it means it will be here long after my time. However, this is misrepresenting our community. It is like having an Irish language committee of the Houses with a French speaker leading it.”
“When I was appointed by the Taoiseach nearly five years ago, I spoke a lot about not wanting to be pigeonholed and not always wanting to just be the Traveller Senator. That is something that I am grateful for, especially in the past few months. I have proven my worth by getting elected on my own merit. I thank all of the people who voted for me. It is absolutely amazing. What I am going to say next will be like me wanting my bread buttered on both sides but this is not the case. I emailed the Labour Party three weeks ago and not once did Deputy Smith reply. I am not doing that out of entitlement. I sent him a message simply asking if we could speak about the Chair of the Traveller committee. I got no response until today.”
“The Irish Red Cross and other organisations are in favour of extending this scheme to people and children from other countries who are also fleeing war, having gone through horrible, traumatic experiences, just like the white children of Ukraine, black children from Yemen and other countries are being traumatised as well. We are not here to say one child matters more than another. That is something the Department needs to think about.”
“As other Senators have pointed out, this is not a solution for the homelessness crisis. This conversation has nothing to do with the Irish homelessness crisis. We have had a homelessness crisis in this country for at least 25 years. I know it has been more to the fore in the past five or six years but we have had a homelessness crisis for years. I do not think the two of them go hand in hand. Many homeless people I know would not like to share a home with another family. They want their own home, their freedom and a roof over their own heads. This would not be a solution for people who are homeless in Ireland. I will not speak for long. I do not have a lot of notes. For me, what really stands out is the injustice and unfairness of how we treat black and brown refugees here.”
“I welcome the extension of the ARP scheme. As an activist, I think it is unjust how we treat one set of refugees, who are white and European, compared with how we treat people from the Middle East. It is a bit like years ago and even today with the gap between the rights of settled people and those of Travellers. More than anyone else here, I know exactly what it is like to be treated as somehow less than someone else. One set of refugees are treated with dignity, respect and love and all this jazz that we are talking about today, which is absolutely brilliant, but brown and black people are not afforded the same human rights, equality, dignity and respect but are attacked and abused on our streets. I and the Civil Engagement Group welcome the extension until 26 March of the ARP.”
“I first met Aisling in my first week here and I remember how friendly she was. She is a lovely person. She works with the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. She is always making sure everyone is okay. I am sure other Senators will also extend warm thanks to Aisling. Not only are we losing a great clerk, but I am losing a good friend in here. She is the lovely friendly face who cares for us all. While we speak publicly, it is the clerks behind the scenes who do a lot of the work. I thank Aisling for all her service to Leinster House and wish her well in her retirement.”
“Adam Harris is quoted in the article as saying that schools are not able to meet the needs of autistic children. There is a serious discussion we need to have in this country about children who are already disadvantaged being more excluded from our education system. This should not happen under our watch, and definitely not under my watch as a legislator who wants to do better by all children. This is concerning for us all. I will table a Commencement matter but it is also a discussion we all need to have. There is inequality for these children. It is a proper scandal. In ten or 20 years down the line, we will look back and say how much we have failed more than 1,000 children. In my last few seconds, I thank Aisling Hart, a clerk who has worked in and given service to Leinster House for the past 37 years.”
“Many Senators may not be aware that more than 1,275 students are not required to go to school in Ireland in 2025. Maria Delaney. a journalist working with The Journal Investigates, has published a concerning report about how 1,275 students are on a reduced timetable. These children are not expected to go to school. It is unfortunate that these are children who have autism, children from the Traveller community and Roma children. I urge Senators to read the report by Maria Delaney. It is very concerning. One young person is quoted in the report as saying, "School makes me feel slow". Anne Burke from the Cork Traveller Education Unit spoke about how these children were excluded from school because of behaviour. That is my opinion, Anne's opinion and that of other activists quoted in the article.”
“We have to name that in the Bill. As I said, the Civil Engagement Group will table amendments on the next Stage and we hope the Minister of State will be able to accept them.”
“With the leave of the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and my apologies, I will restart my contribution for the benefit of the Minister of State because this is very important. While I welcome this financial Bill, it is very important that we amend it. From my reading of how it stands, it leaves out many people in society, such as older people and victims of domestic violence who are financially controlled. Our group will table some amendments to make this a more just Bill that is fit for purpose for everybody. Some of those amendments, such as one relating to section 33 of the Domestic Violence Act, are intended to allow survivors to make financial complaints without having to consult their abuser. While we welcome this Bill, it should also cover injustices against older people, people with disabilities and people going through domestic violence.”
“While I welcome this important Bill, it ignores the most vulnerable people within our society. Nowhere does it refer to domestic violence or older people or people with disabilities being controlled. I might wait until I have the Minister of State's attention.”
“Going back even 15 years ago, we were very judgmental as a society. If a member of a family had, say, a disability, a lot of families chose to hide it or to put the person into an institution. It is no longer like that but the cost for somebody to be diagnosed with autism is €2,350. That is just an estimated cost for an adult. Whether they are on social welfare or working, it will still cost that amount for that person to be diagnosed. This is for an adult who has been failed by the system their whole life. I urge that we have this conversation, perhaps if the committee on disability matters was set back up”
“For the record, Garron Noone came off social media himself for his own mental health. I, for one, am delighted to see him back on social media. He is absolutely great craic. I am a very big fan of his. Last night, when he came back, he was thanking the migrants in this country for reaching out to him and supporting him. I want to put that on the record, instead of giving the misinformation that he was forced off. He decided to come off social media himself. He was not forced off. He decided it was the best thing for him to do for his mental health. Moving on to my own item of the Order of Business, I call for a debate on adults being diagnosed with disabilities like autism, dyslexia or ADHD. There are thousands of adults in this country over the age of 50 or 60 who were failed by the system.”
“With the best intentions and supporting the Bill, where is the resource going to come from? I would like the Minister to answer this evening if that is any way possible because it looks to me like we will agree this Bill today, which is brilliant, but is not worth the paper it is written on unless there is implementation - it will just be broken promises again for the children with scoliosis in this country.”