New EU Disability Card should support the rights of people with disabilities – Doherty

A new disability card must be introduced that would apply across the EU, to ensure that people with disabilities, including from Ireland, would have equal access to special conditions and necessary supports anywhere in the EU, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Regina Doherty, Dublin European Election candidate for Fine Gael said: “The EU should ensure that it provides equal rights and minimum standards for all our citizens, including those with disabilities. Currently, recognition of disability varies across all EU member states, meaning that people are not guaranteed the same supports everywhere in the European Union such as priority access, personal assistance, or mobility aids. This means that people from Ireland with disabilities who travel in the EU often cannot access the supports they need and rightly expect.

“A European Disability Card and European Parking card for persons with disabilities would serve as a proof of disability status across all EU countries. It would grant cardholders equal access to special conditions and preferential treatments anywhere in the EU, as well as guaranteed use of parking spaces and facilities reserved for persons with disabilities in all EU countries. Importantly, such cards would complement and not replace national disability recognition programmes.

“The proposed cards, which could be both physical and digital, have been mooted by the European Commission but have not yet been agreed upon by the European Parliament and the European Council. If elected as an MEP for Dublin, I will work to ensure that this proposal is passed and implemented as soon as possible for the benefit of all persons with disabilities in Ireland.”