Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen.
Franklin Roosevelt defined the role of Government as striving "to create a society where nobody feels left out."
It's a simple definition.
A powerful definition.
I believe it should sit on a little plaque on every Minister's desk. Everything else must serve it. The economy. Infrastructure. Every daily effort must contribute to the creation of a society where nobody feels left out.
That's what the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities is all about.
One in every six people in Ireland has some kind of disability that affects their daily life. People with disabilities are not some separate group. People with disabilities are us, our families and our friends. But they can feel left out - and we have to strive to prevent that.
My own background as a social worker makes me acutely conscious of the practical challenges facing people with disabilities. My work in relation to gender equality makes me aware of the particular importance of work for women’s financial independence. This is especially so in the case of women with disabilities.
Yes, improved access to education, training and employment makes it possible for people with disabilities to participate more fully in society. Yes, it helps people with disabilities to live more independently.
But -- and it's a big but --- people with disabilities are only half as likely to be in employment as others of working age. Given the importance of work, that's not good enough. Work is where most of us spend most time. It's a place where friendships build, networks grow, self-esteem happens.
The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with Disabilities aims to help people to play an active part in our workforce. The focus is on building skills, capacity and independence; providing bridges and support in to work; making work pay; promoting job retention and re-entry to work; providing coordinated and seamless support; and engaging with employers.
The Strategy sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities, who are able to, and want to work are supported and enabled.
It will have an employer helpline to provide expert guidance and peer support to employers about the employment of staff with disabilities. This helpline will be funded by the National Disability Authority and will be of particular help to those employers who'd like to employ people with disabilities but are unsure of what, if anything, they will need to do differently to ensure that this is successful.
I believe that this Strategy is practical and, when implemented, will be effective. I look forward to seeing it progress in the years to come. Every step we take along this road will bring us close to the society we want.