Making politics accessible to all starts with Ireland- Conway

Government must draw on international expertise to inform strategies for a more inclusive political system, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Martin Conway, who is set to chair the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Annual Meeting of the Advisory Panel on the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities, has called for Ireland to lead the way in fostering greater political involvement for people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities should be at the top table where decisions are made in politics and public life. Fine Gael has been working hard to ensure that we are building a society that values and enables everyone.

“This meeting provides advice, guidance and recommendations to ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) on the participation of people with disabilities in political and public life, and presents a significant opportunity to share knowledge and expand the conversation around political participation for people with disabilities across the OSCE.

“However,  I know more must be done, especially when it comes to political representation and participation.

“Meaningful steps must be taken to enable people with disabilities to be politically engaged and represented”

“In my role as Chair, I want Ireland to be a leader in promoting participation in politics and public life for people with disabilities.

“Our goal is to agree on strategies that will lead to real, meaningful engagement for people with disabilities in politics and public life.

“The Dublin Recommendations of 2023 laid the groundwork for change, and now we are building on that momentum.

“It’s time for us to create a political system that is fully inclusive, where public bodies, elected offices, and the electoral process enable people with disabilities to actively participate and contribute to shaping the future.

“This includes improving physical accessibility in all public buildings, ensuring accessible campaign materials, and providing assistive technologies for candidates with disabilities participating in election”

“We should also prioritise education and mentorship programs to empower people with disabilities to pursue political careers.

“This panel of experts is dedicated to creating policies that make politics a more welcoming place for persons with disabilities, not just in Ireland, but across the entire OSCE region. I look forward to returning with solutions that can help make this vision a reality,” Senator Conway concluded.