I wish to raise the case of Caitlin Ada Joanne Hassan. This is not the first time I have raised it and I am bringing it to the House’s attention again. This young woman was sexually and physically assaulted in a publicly funded care provider. It was subcontracted by the HSE to do what should be done by the State as a matter of human rights and entitlements. Unfortunately, we are 30 years behind the rest of Europe in that regard. This young woman was physically and sexually assaulted while in the care of-----

It is a matter of public record.

She was physically and sexually assaulted. This House quite rightly expresses concerns about safeguarding and vulnerable people. Much has been made of those matters in recent weeks,-----

-----but when it comes to this young disabled woman, there appears to be less-----

I shall continue. A report was commissioned by the HSE in much the same way that the Catholic Church used to investigate itself. It has its own little investigative arm. It investigated the allegations and the report was withheld from Louise Hassan, a single mom and Caitlin’s mother, for no reason. When she wrote to the HSE to the disability services manager to get sight and access to the report, I can tell you that the response, which I have a copy of, was patronising, condescending and implied that, simply by ask…

The Ceannaire is very kind and I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. Brambles is a day and respite care service operated by St. Catherine's Association in Newcastle, County Wicklow. It is a service that is available for parents and carers of children and young adults with intellectual disabilities. I have to declare a conflict of interest here. My nephew, who has Down's syndrome, gets much needed daily respite in the centre. Unfortunately, it has had to close its respite centre to all parents and carers because another …

Hear, hear. Well said.

I welcome the Minister. I note that all the amendments have been ruled out of order. I also note that we are at a particular point where nobody knows what is going to happen in the next couple of weeks. I know the Minister's time is limited in terms of getting this through. Members, including Senator Malcolm Byrne, spoke at length about the graduates and the institutions that would be inadvertently excluded from this. We had a very constructive exchange and in the Minister’s response, I certainly felt that he agree…

Hear, hear.

Just by way of explanation, all the subsequent amendments pertaining to all the sections from Senator McDowell and I all refer to the same principle of including extra institutions. I do not intend to speak to them as I spoke to the Minister about it earlier and last week. I take in good faith his assurance they will, with whatever discretion they have, seek to include those graduates. On what Senator Higgins was saying, the migration of the Trinity and NUI panel votes would of course be very advantageous to us bec…

I will be a shot in the arm, being the young energetic Senator that I am.

I do not share the same ideological ground as Senator Mullen. My amendment relates to the categories of citizens set out in the legislation. It includes all those referred to.

What the Minister said may have been unintentional but she should clarify the record because, with respect, my amendment seeks explicitly to protect that category of citizens in question.

The Minister is simply continuing; she has not corrected the record. I ask the Chair to direct the following question to the Minister: does she intend to correct the record or does she stand by her assertion that there is nothing in my amendment that would seek to protect all the categories of citizens as set out by her and her drafters? I have explicitly referred to protecting them.

Will the Minister correct the record?

She said none of the amendments submitted by any of the Senators would protect a transgender person. I have the greatest of respect for the Minister; this is not personal.

The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber again. I do not have any objection whatsoever to the intentions and principles that underpin this Bill. It is sometimes said that perfection is the enemy of the good, but one small imperfection in this Bill is the enemy of the good intentions of the Minister and the Government. With regard to the definition of hate I have submitted in my amendment – it is my only amendment – I want to be clear. The citing of the lack of a definition of hatred in other jurisdictions as a r…

With respect to the Senator, it is not a comprehensive list because all of humanity is infinite and varietal. All difference is to be celebrated. To read-----

It is a finite list, so it cannot purport to represent the infinite variety of all human beings which, as I said, should be celebrated.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 17 be taken before No. 1. This concerns the Disability (Personalised Budgets) Bill 2024, which will revolutionise the situation for disabled citizens in the State who cannot get the services, supports, therapies and surgeries they need. It would take control away from the HSE and put it into the hands of disabled citizens and carers. I thank my colleagues in Seanad Éireann for signing the Bill, co-sponsoring it and supporting me. I got support from across th…