Labour says it will end 'neglect' of disabled

Labour has pledged it will implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities if it comes…

Labour has pledged it will implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities if it comes to power.

"People with a physical, mental or sensory disability have been treated as second-class citizens in this country. It is time to bring this neglect and discrimination to an end," said Ms Roisin Shortall, the party’s spokesperson on education.

"Labour will introduce strong rights-based legislation for people with a disability," said Ms Shortall.

"This was a key recommendation of the Report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities and the Labour Party is determined to make this recommendation a reality".

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The party says people with a disability and their families are waiting on "long-promised" legislation and that the Disabilities Bill was a "fraud".

Labour says it aims to introduce a strong enforcement system, with the role of Ombudsman created for people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, has attacked Fianna Fáil election commitments as stretching credibility.

"This morning’s indication that the Garda Representatives' Association have joined the Department of Finance in agreeing that Fianna Fáil’s commitment to appoint 2,000 additional Gardai cannot be implemented is a further blow for Fianna Fáil’s failing campaign," said Mr Quinn.

He cast doubt on Fianna Fáil’s ability to deliver on their promise to eliminate hospital waiting lists in just two years.

"The Deapartment of Health will not be in a position to plan for additional capacity unless they have a dedicated stream of funding over a number of years," said Mr Quinn.

"That is why Labour has set out a guaranteed €5 billion in capital investment over the next five years."