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10

2019 Donohoe Rules Out People With Disabilities ‘Caught
In A Permanent Recession’
2nd, People with dis-

October Supplementary abilities are being left
behind with two out
of three unemployed,
| Budget For No-Deal a disability confer-
ence has heard.
EXAMINER Brexit W h e e l c h a i r
Irish
The

A s s o c i a t i o n ’ s
IRISH WorkAbility 2019
Summit heard that over 63% of people with disabilities are
“caught in a permanent recession.”
The conference, which took place in Croke Park, highlighted
the benefits of firms employing people with disabilities.
Rosemary Keogh, CEO of the Irish Wheelchair Association,
said that the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is
around four times as high as Ireland’s worst unemployment rate
at the peak of the recession in 2012.
“People with disabilities are caught in a permanent recession,
when it comes to finding work,” she said.
“What’s more, although the Government has introduced a
Make Work Pay policy for people with disabilities, which allows
them to retain benefits while taking up employment, they are
not included in any unemployment statistics.
“As economic prosperity has returned to our country, people
with disabilities have been left behind when it comes to employ-
ment.
“Yet, people with disabilities have a right to work, want to
work and have a huge amount of skills to offer.
“It is time to build workplaces that welcome and reflect the
he Finance Minister that. into the period that Budget
has ruled out a sup- “The Taoiseach and I are 2020 is planning for.” rich diversity of life experiences and abilities that are at the heart
Tplementary budget in absolutely aligned on what Speaking in his north of our country.
the event of a no-deal our priorities are, and the Dublin constituency at a “Diversity and inclusion initiatives are positive, but greater
Brexit. Taoiseach ruled out the North East Inner City investment from government and employers is needed to carve
Paschal Donohoe has prospect of any supplemen- Program event which seeks out routes for people with disabilities into the workforce.”
already indicated the 2020 tary budget. to rejuvenate the area, previ- Ms Keogh called for firms to hire a diverse and inclusive
budget, due on October 8, “Any changes we are going ously plagued with drug and workforce.
will reflect a hard Brexit sce- to make, if we make changes, gang violence, Mr Donohoe “For employees, supportive work environments, flexible
nario, but a new report from are going to be minimal and also sought to reassure the work arrangements and accessible workplaces can be key,” she
the Economic and Social affordable, we can’t put out public as the potential of added.
Research Institute (ESRI) changes on October 8 that we recession has been pushed to TV presenter Daraine Mulvihill said it is challenging for peo-
warned of the risk of reces- can’t afford in March.” the forefront of political ple with disabilities to find work.
sion posed by a no-deal exit As Westminster remains in debate. “It’s shocking the limits that other people put on people with
and advised an additional disarray over Brexit, many He said: “Absolutely I disabilities, how opportunities shrink in other people’s minds,”
budget may be needed to deal have speculated the UK will understand the return of the she added.
with the fallout. be forced to delay leaving the recession word into commen- “When I started working in media, there were some chal-
Mr Donohoe said his EU. tary under way here, I under- lenges, but people were open and inclusive for the most part and
department has already made Mr Donohoe refused to be stand the concern that can I managed to work my way up from there. There are ups and
preparations for such eventu- drawn on the issue, saying: “I cause and I feel it first-hand, downs and highs and lows but it soon gets easier.”
alities. would be very wary about the concern people do have The sports broadcaster, who began her career as a runner in
He added: “The report making predictions about over what no-deal Brexit RTÉ, has presented the London 2012 Paralympics and 2014
from ERSI published figures what is going to happen could create. Winter Paralympics for Channel 4, 2016 Paralympics for RTÉ
that are very similar to what I across the coming weeks and “What I would say to Two Television and the Invictus Games for the BBC.
have published a number of months. those citizens is, if you look at Noel Joyce has been in a wheelchair after a mountain bike
times during the year and “The Prime Minister is our economy now, we have accident in 2006 ended his five-year career in the military.
reflected in the Summer making it very clear that he is 2.3 million people at work, in Mr Joyce returned to education and developed an interna-
Economic Statement. going to leave the EU in any the absence of the private tional career in design.
“If we do face a disorderly circumstance that he can see credit bubble that nearly He said that people with disabilities have “superpowers”.
Brexit, it will present a chal- on October 31. destroyed our country a “They have a unique insight into problem solving that is at a
lenge to our economy, a chal- “From our point of view, decade ago, we have national multiple of what most people go through in a day,” he added.
lenge that I’m confident that what that means is the poten- finances, that of course “The average person does not engage in problem solving and
we will be able to respond tial for no-deal is either hap- always have vulnerabilities in forward planning to the same extent.
back to in those type of cir- pening in the planning period them, in a position of “People with disabilities are hard-wired to problem solve, as
cumstances. for budget 2020, or across the strength. they do it every single day. This makes them the best problem
“Deal or no deal, I will not period in which budget 2020 “In Budget 2020 I will out- solvers and forward planners in society.
be doing another budget. On will be implemented. line what I and this “The biggest minority group in the world is people with dis-
October 8 I will outline the “So maybe we could be Government will do if we abilities at over 1 billion people and the biggest group within this
overall budgetary framework looking at a timing shift in the find ourselves having to deal is the elderly.
and any response I need to uncertainty taking place, but with the vista of no-deal “If you’re lucky enough to live a long life, you have a 100%
put in place will be inside then that uncertainty moves Brexit. C chance of having a disability.” C