In Dublin city centre, a group of disability rights campaigners gathered for a peaceful demonstration, calling on the government to withdraw the Green Paper on Disability Reform. Their protest follows the recent referendum defeat on the Care Amendment, which activists see as a clear signal to the government that it can no longer overlook their concerns.
The campaigners argue that the Green Paper imposes undue pressure on disabled individuals, particularly those with motor neurone disabilities, to enter the workforce. They view it as a move towards reducing essential services rather than genuine reform, leading to what they perceive as further marginalisation.
According to Senator Tom Clonan, the Green Paper aligns with the Attorney General’s stance against granting disabled individuals socio-economic rights under the law, making Ireland an outlier compared to other EU countries. Clonan condemns the document as alarming and hopes that the government will heed the public’s outcry following the referendum outcome.
Several TDs, including Richard Boyd Barrett, Bríd Smyth, and Paul Murphy, joined the rally to show their support. Boyd Barrett emphasised the challenges faced by disabled individuals in Ireland and urged the government to engage more actively with the disability community. He commended the campaigners for their unified voice, which he believes has put pressure on the government to take notice and reconsider its approach.
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