People with Disabilities in Ireland
4th Floor Jervis House
Jervis Street
Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 87 21 74 4
Fax: 01 87 21 77 1
Email: info@pwdi.ie
It has been a hectic number of months for PwDI since the publication by the Government of the National Disability Strategy in September last. Apart from the preparation and presentation of our pre-budget submission, our countrywide series of seminars on the Barcelona Strategy on December 3rd and our continued input into the Disability Legislation Consultation Group, we held a series of meetings at local level to take on board the views of the entire PwDI network on the Disability Bill. This is now summarised in this edition of Cumhacht.
On behalf of PwDI I have been overseeing a lobbying campaign to have the changes outlined incorporated into the Bill before it is enacted in the next couple of months. This campaign involves Government, Opposition, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights, as well as the media.
I would like to reiterate what our Chairman Nigel Brander says about the need to continue lobbying all parties at local level. The importance of this cannot be overstated as it impacts hugely on the decision-makers at national level.
I am delighted to say that as a result of the work being done at all levels within PwDI, our organisation has grown in influence and is held in high standing by politicians of all persuasions as well as by the media. I am receiving a much-increased level of calls from the media for background information to guide them in their work.
To help accelerate progress, it is important that all Networks, as well as individual members, appreciate that when lobbying officials, councillors, TDs, or whoever, you need to make sure they are aware that you carry the weight of the PwDI organisation behind you. If confusion arises as to whom you represent, your argument is weakened. Therefore, each Network should ensure that all documents and presentations carry the PwDI logo and branding and a short summary of our role and work. Please do not hesitate to contact the national office for any assistance you may need in this regard.
Looking ahead, our Board has approved a strong programme of additional work for the months ahead. We will be working with other organisations in the disability area to ensure that the extra resources allocated in the budget - €420m in 2005 and a further €900m extra between 2006 to 2009 - are properly targeted so that it makes a real impact on the daily lives of the 400,000 people with disabilities. We will also be advancing our Advocacy initiative of last year, organising training initiatives at network level, as well as continuing our national lobbying campaign.
In addition to all of this, we will continue to strengthen our National Office support for the all local Networks.
I look forward to meeting you all over the weeks and months ahead.
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