Ukraine Update - Letters to Minister Rabbitte, Minister Donnelly, Minister O'Gorman and CEO of HSE.
March 15 2022
DFI sent the following letters today to highlight the need to support people with disabilities fleeing Ukraine:
- Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte
- Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly
- Minister for Disability, Equality, Integration, Children and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman and;
- Paul Reid, the CEO of the HSE
We made four main requests:
Firstly, we need to see strong strategic and organisational leadership with resources, across government and public services and engagement with us that is specifically and openly focused on the protection of disabled people and their families.
Secondly, there must be a focus on those managing to leave with only the clothes they are wearing. Wheelchairs, medicines, special foods, aids and appliances, assistive technologies and communication aids, all left behind.
Thirdly, every effort must be made with Ireland’s allies to get support to those who cannot flee. They are in the most perilous and dire situation.
Fourthly, government and public bodies must specifically name disabled people and their families in all public engagements and directly include them in all planning, actions and delivery of support.