A Seanad candidate has called for legislation to support disabled people who wish to live independently and enter the workforce.
If successful Ann Marie Flanagan, who is an Independent candidate for the Administrative Panel in the 2025 Seanad election, would be the first ever disabled woman directly elected as a senator.
Ms Flanagan has over 30 years of experience in advocating for people with disabilities, and was nominated by Independent Living Movement Ireland.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Ms Flanagan said legislation that asserts the right to independent living for disabled people is a key goal.
"I would consider myself to have good negotiation skills to move beyond the money note, and to finally, after 100 years bring forward legislation that gives a right to disabled people to have independent living and get on with everyone's lives in the community on an equal basis."
'Silent issue'
She added: "Sometimes people say to me senators have a responsibility for everybody, that's absolutely true. Disabled people and their families are sometimes seen as a separate issue, a silent issues, but of course when discussing all policy and legislative issues, I will be listening and responding. The idea that other senators, or TDs, don't have a particular lens, is untrue.
"You have lots of people, and they come and are very clear they are representing a particular group, that's not levied at them. It's seen as additional expertise to make sure everyone they are representing is included, that's what I will be doing as well.
"As I said, as a worker, a mother, a family member who supports other, to all the family members in a care role that is fundamental to the work I want to do."
During the general election campaign, Taoiseach Simon Harris' interaction with care worker Charlotte Fallon in Co Cork went viral, with people highlighting a lack of support for disability workers.
Ms Flanagan said these discussions are important, however, she said disabled people are "too often only seen through the lens of recipients of care".
"Simon Harris' interaction did shine a light on issues imparting disabled people, but what I want to say is it did expose what I would describe as a deeply ingrained attitude of how limited disabled people are viewed in society.
"Those discussions were very reactive commentary, framing disabled people only in the context of services. It really perpetuates this narrative, that disabled people only exist within a context of a recepient of care/services.
"Disabled people are like everybody else. We are parents, lovers, partners, artists, athletes, taxpayers, homeowners... we're individuals who need a home, we participate in every aspect of society."
Ireland is talking about full employment, yet of disabled people who want to work and can work, 70 per cent are unemployed.
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While support for disabled people was mentioned in the campaign, and in Budget 2025, Ms Flanagan said more needs to be done for people with disabilities who want to live independently and join the workforce.
"There was mentions of once off cost-of-living supports of €400 to people on the disability allowance, and €500 next year, the government's own reports says these costs are between €9,000 and €11,000.
"The State's analysis of disabled people's income is only through the lens of being a receipient of disability allowance. Ireland is talking about full employment, yet of disabled people who want to work and can work, 70 per cent are unemployed.
"One of the reasons is people need supports like a medical card, as many disabled people have medical issues, so therefore to lose that would mean losing any secondary benefits. We need to separate those benefits so people can go out to work.
"Access to transport to get to and from work is missing, the majority of Ireland is rurally structured. The second big thing is independent living support services.
"I engage daily with hundreds of disabled people who want to go to work, live in their own home.
"The Minister for Finance in the Budget highlights these once-off soundbites for disabled people 'x amount of millions', it was all residential care, respite and day services. That was a message to society of where disabled people should be, and it's wrong, we need to change that."
Ms Flanagan stressed that there are already TDs and senators advocating on behalf of disabled people. However, she feels her lived experience can only add to their work, adding that she will represent all constituents and families who feel excluded, and work with government colleagues to achieve these objectives.
'We'll just fix the means testing', using that as a political football is demeaning to families, it's demeaning to the person receiving support too.
"It's a privelige and honour to be trusted with this nomination from Independent Living Movement Ireland.
"It will be a challenge for me to get these votes. To councillors, TDs, senators and constituents I would say my commitment for five years will be to bring analysis on people's rights. I will look at all the big issues.
"When we are still grant-aiding charity organisations to provide services, which they do to the best of their ability, it's a message to society that this is how disabled people are treated.
"We need a legal framework to address the individuals' needs.
"When you talk about the rights of disabled people, we need to talk about the rights of families too, most people are part of families, so we have almost treated family members in a care role as a separate entity.
"'We'll just fix the means testing', using that as a political football is demeaning to families, it's demeaning to the person receiving support too.
"In my analysis and critique, the reality is we're all part of a society with unconscious bias and ableism, there is no blame in my analysis. I just want to bring my expertise into the analysis, not criticise any individuals."
