Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before I make my comments, I would like to extend my sympathies to the D'Arcy family, in particular former Senator Michael D'Arcy whom we all served with here for a number of years.

Tomorrow is Europe Day, as the Cathaoirleach knows. We are having a debate in the House on the importance of Europe. It is a time to reflect on all of the benefits that this country has derived from its membership of the European Union. As a country, we have been totally transformed in terms of education, IT, technology, infrastructure, road and rail networks, buses, etc. The European infrastructure investment fund has invested billions upon billions in this country and has made this country into the first world country it is. Sometimes we forget how beneficial the last number of decades have been in terms of what we have achieved. Of course, Europe is a broad church comprising many different countries, cultures and traditions. We always have work to do to improve things, especially the lives of the citizens of Europe.

I was proud and honoured to address the European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities last June, which met in plenary session in the European Parliament chamber in Brussels. It is an advocacy body comprising advocates from across the 26 countries. Advocacy groups sent the equivalent number of representatives as there are MEPs for each country.In my keynote address at that forum, I spoke about the need to expedite the European card for people with disabilities and the parking card. For too long, there has not been synchronisation of the one card for people with disabilities travelling across Europe. We are free of borders, thankfully, and the European disability card will make it easier for people with disabilities. The European parking card will also make it easier for people with disabilities who are travelling across the borders of Europe. I welcome the fact the European Parliament has given the green light to this. I would like a debate in the not-too-distant future on when we will see that transposed into Irish law and what processes will be used to issue European disability and parking cards in Ireland.