“Scrapping of this green paper is a massive stress off the shoulders of people with disabilities”

Ruairí Fahy, People Before Profit candidate for Limerick Mayor, has welcomed news that the Government has scrapped its own Green Paper on Disability Reform.

Mr. Fahy said “The scrapping of this Green Paper is a massive weight off the shoulders of people with disabilities and a huge victory for disability rights activists and people power. The proposals represented a ruthless attack on people with disabilities and it is fantastic news that the Government has been forced to back down.

“In Limerick there are already efforts to try to link up people with disabilities with suitable employment that is cognisant of what they need to succeed at work but this Green Paper wasn't about trying to give people the option to work, it was an attempt to import a Tory policies that has led to extreme poverty for people with disabilities, making the struggles they face even harder."

Mr. Fahy also said “Next Wednesday, People Before-Solidarity TDs will introduce a Disability Justice motion in the Dáil. This motion was written in collaboration with disability activists and organisations and called for scrapping of the Government’s Green Paper for Disability Reform. We have already won that, but the Government must now agree to the rest of the motion’s calls, including for an end to means testing for disability payments; for increased payments to cover high costs of disability; urgent action to cut disability network team waiting lists; a living wage for carers; massively expanded personal assistance hours; ratification of optional UN protocol on disability tight; and a constitutional amendment to assert disability rights”.

Ruairí Fahy said “Congratulations to the disability activists and organisations for this victory. We in People Before Profit will continue to fight with you for the end of discrimination against and impoverishment of people with disabilities and their carers and to achieve full disability justice”