5 Feb 2013, 17:02
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions will tomorrow meet with the Minister for Health James Reilly TD
5 February 2013
Kathleen Lynch TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People will also address the Committee along with the Secretary General at Department of Health and Children Dr Ambrose McLoughlin and representatives from the HSE.
In December, Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly outlined to the Committee two Special Reports on grant aid to those with disabilities, which criticise the Department of Health for not implementing recommendations by her office. Ms O’Reilly explained that both the Mobility Allowance Scheme and the Motorised Transport Grant are being operated on the basis of eligibility conditions which breach the provisions of the Equal Status Acts.
Cathaoirleach of the Committee Pádraig Mac Lochlainn says: “In December, Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly gave the Committee a thorough and candid summary of her Reports which demonstrate a worrying disregard for the law by a Government Department. The Mobility Allowance Report found that, despite having agreed to do so, the Department of Health has failed to implement the removal of an upper age limit as recommended by the Ombudsman. A separate Ombudsman investigation found that the HSE's operation of the Motorised Transport Grant reflected an approach to disability which is unduly restrictive, improperly discriminatory and fails to have proper regard to the Equal Status Acts.
“We as a committee have committed to using full extent of the power at our disposal to ensure that there is full compliance with the law by a Government Department. Tomorrow is an opportunity to explore with Minister Reilly, Minister of State Lynch and senior Department and HSE officials how a pathway can be found to ensure the rights of the vulnerable citizens at the centre of these cases are vindicated.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 6 February in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000, commencing at 4 pm.
Committee proceedings can be viewed online via this link.
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit Alliance
Joan Collins, People Before Profit Alliance
Michael Conaghan, Labour
Alan Farrell, Fine Gael
Charles Flanagan, Fine Gael
Michael Healy-Rae, Independent
Peter Mathews, Fine Gael
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Sinn Féin (Cathaoirleach)
Michael McCarthy, Labour (Leas-Chathaoirleach)
Michelle Mulherin, Fine Gael
Derek Nolan, Labour
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Fianna Fáil
John Paul Phelan, Fine Gael
Senators:
Thomas Byrne
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh
Jimmy Harte
Tony Mulcahy
Susan O’Keeffe