Seanad Report: Mr John Minihan (PD) said he was disappointed that some people had tried to hijack the Special Olympics for political purposes.
The Games would heighten in our minds the abilities of those who were disabled and what could be achieved. "If that is the message of the events of these days it will stand the Irish people in good stead and is something on which we can build."
Mr Minihan expressed disappointment that certain people had endeavoured to politicise the area of disability and to hijack this event for political purposes.
"This is something I had hoped would not happen. This is wrong and it does a dis-service. To create false hopes and to play on people's emotions for political gain does a dis-service to the people we represent. We saw this during the general election with racism. That was appalling and I saw the effect it had on people. We should not do it to disability groups. I appeal to politicians on all sides of the House to avoid those tactics. Such issues must be highlighted, but in a constructive manner."
Reacting to Opposition criticisms of the Government's treatment of the disabled, Mr Minihan said that if those who had voiced concern about issues raised by the Irish Wheelchair Association had checked with that body, they would have found these had been resolved.
Earlier, Mr Maurice Cummins (FG) had told the House that it was criminal that some Irish Special Olympians might be facing the loss of support services later this year.
Besides the Special Olympics, there seemed to be another competition going on in this country. "It's a competition for rights, for funding, for recognition and support. Many people with special needs and disabilities and their families and indeed the carers are facing a bleak future. They should not be forced to compete for priority of public funding during an international sporting event."
Mr Cummins said that people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities were being forced again and again to protest and to demonstrate their anger for the non-meeting of their needs, at the gates of Dáil Eireann. These people had been invisible for too long.