Cara Darmody, 14, in 50-hour Leinster House protest
Cara Darmody has been campaigning for better service for families with children with disabilities for three years, noting that it is both a 'national disgrace and international embarrassment' on how children are treated in Ireland.
The Assessments of Needs Law states that children with autism should be assessed within six months of application. Cara Darmody. Pic: Provided
The young campaigner said: 'It is not acceptable in my book — how can the Cabinet expect teenagers like me to obey the laws of our lands, when they are the ones that break a law openly and with impunity.
'It is a national disgrace and an international embarrassment in how we treat children in Ireland with Autism or Intellectual Disabilities.
'It must end — right here, right now.'
Cara's two younger brothers — Neil, 12, and John, 8, both have autism and severe/profound intellectual disabilities, with the secondary school student saying they were both 'failed dramatically by the State' regarding the Assessments & Services that they received. Cara Darmody. Pic: Provided
Cara added: 'There is nothing in my advocacy for them, I now do it for the national picture.'
On Tuesday morning at 10am, Cara commenced a 50-hour protest outside the front of Leinster House, which resulted in her sleeping in a tent overnight on Tuesday.
The Tipperary teen confirmed she had written recently to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris with her asks.
These are: Declaration of a national emergency for children and the immediate cessation of breaking the AON law. Allocation of immediate and additional funding to 'Cara's Fund' — towards AON backlogs. Creation of a task force to examine & remove possible obstacles. Specific financial allocation towards backlogs of Services such as SLT, OT, physio. Permission to address the Cabinet sub-committee on Disability.
Cara said: 'I would give a dramatic address to ty and inspire the sub-committee to follow my lead in breaking down impossible barriers and to finally bring this AON issue under control.
'I will not stop until this Government, who is asleep at the wheel on the issue, wakes up and treats it as an emergency.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Colin Sheridan: I'd be the perfect president — I wouldn't interfere in anything
It is with deep humility, mild vanity, and a complete lack of preparation that I announce my intention to succeed Michael D Higgins as the next president of Ireland. This is not a decision I arrived at lightly. No, this is the result of careful reflection, at least two long runs in the Phoenix Park, and a chance encounter with a sika deer who looked at me as if to say: 'Colin, your time is now.' Some will wonder what qualifies me for the highest office in the land. Well, 26 years' service as an officer of the State and peacekeeper with the United Nations. That's longer than Netflix has existed, longer than we've had the euro, and longer than Michael D's hair has been blowing in the breeze on Áras lawns. For over a quarter of a century, I stood between opposing forces, negotiating tense stand-offs, all the while wearing a beret and looking calm in the face of unimaginable chaos. Do you know how hard it is to look good wearing a beret? This makes me uniquely suited to the presidency, where my role will be to stand between warring government factions, look concerned for the cameras, then drift off toward the canapé table without saying anything incendiary. I have no intention of interfering in anything. This is not apathy. This is strategy. Interference is the enemy of peace — I learned that in Lebanon, Liberia, and Kabul. When you've seen men point rifles at each other over an imaginary line in the sand, you learn that sometimes the greatest intervention is no intervention at all My presidency will be a masterclass in dignified, studied inaction. I will be genocide-indifferent, a welcome break from our current president, who seems to prioritise principles over politics. Such nonsense! Unlike my rival Catherine Connolly, I am, in fact, a man. This is not an attack — merely a biographical detail. She, presumably, will run on the radical ticket of 'having opinions'. I, however, will run on the far safer platform of 'not upsetting anyone'. In this increasingly polarised climate, that is no small feat. And while Catherine might speak eloquently in the Dáil, I bring something no other candidate can match: The ability to run 10km through the Phoenix Park without looking like I'm being chased. I have spent countless mornings pounding those paths, nodding at other joggers in that silent fraternity of the slightly unhinged. Running there has taught me many things about endurance, resilience, and which bushes contain ... um ... adult adventurers. Independent TD Catherine Connolly, presumably, will run on the radical ticket of 'having opinions', but Colin Sheridan doesn't want to upset anyone. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA It's also where I refine my thoughts on the central issues of my campaign: The canapés. The Irish presidency has been crying out for someone to take the State's finger food seriously. Too often have visiting dignitaries been fobbed off with a stale vol-au-vent or a micro-quiche that tastes like ambition left out in the rain. Under my leadership, the Áras will be a fortress of hors d'oeuvres excellence. There will be smoked salmon blinis that make French ambassadors weep, sausage rolls of substance, and prawn skewers that actually contain prawn. Food diplomacy is real diplomacy. I know this because I have seen ceasefires tentatively agreed over tabbouleh I have watched suspicious men in camouflage soften at the sight of a decent mini-spring roll. My canapé doctrine is simple: Feed them well and they will listen to you, or at least stop shouting long enough for the band to finish Amhrán na bhFiann. Some of you might be wondering about my 'vision' for Ireland. Here it is: To be exactly the kind of president you forget is there until you see them on the news shaking hands with someone important, at which point you think: 'Fair play, he's still going.' That's the job. This is not America. We don't want a president who interferes with policy, only with the placement of the Laphroaig at New Year's. My years with the UN have equipped me perfectly for ceremonial life. I can stand very still while being photographed. I can nod meaningfully during speeches I don't understand. I can smile politely while someone tells me their entire family history in a language I do not speak. I am also capable of remembering the names of at least three people at any given reception — a skill honed under fire, both literal and metaphorical. The Phoenix Park will, of course, remain central to my presidency. It is both my training ground and my metaphor. Just as the park contains majestic beauty, occasional chaos, and the faint smell of shit, so too will my term in office. I will invite foreign leaders to join me on runs there, at a pace slow enough to preserve diplomacy but fast enough to discourage overly long conversations about trade deficits. Critics may accuse me of lacking substance. They are correct. Most exes agree. Substance is for the Government The president's role is to be the oil painting in the nation's living room — always there, rarely the subject of an argument. I will be that oil painting, but one with excellent cardio and an eye for a decent canapé spread. Michael D Higgins has set the bar high. He is learned, articulate, and capable of quoting obscure poets at a moment's notice. I will not attempt to compete in that arena. Instead, I will focus on making guests feel welcome through my flagrant mediocrity. In summary, 26 years of peace-keeping have prepared me to maintain harmony in the Áras without lifting more than an eyebrow. I promise to interfere in absolutely nothing, unless the smoked salmon runs out, in which case all bets are off. Ireland, I stand ready. Ready to host, to smile, to run, to nod, and to preside over the greatest finger-food renaissance our Republic has ever known. If you elect me, I will bring dignity, calm, and a discreet but determined focus on the important things, chiefly, remaining indifferent in the face of global entropy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must train. Not for the campaign trail — for the canapé table.
The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Millionaire Áras hopeful launches presidential campaign in the Shelbourne - here's what he said
THE MILLIONAIRE MILLENNIAL Gareth Sheridan chose the Constitution Room, the birthplace of the Irish Constitution in 1922, in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin as the location to launch his presidential campaign today. It's the second presidential launch we've had this summer, with the pharma tycoon worth €16 million, fielding robust questions from the Irish media as he enters the race. With his wife Heidi and his campaign team seated at the large Cabinet-style table next to the podium, the pharma tycoon (a terms he says he wouldn't use to describe himself) answered questions about the range of controversies that have emerged since his name first entered the race last weekend. The entrepreneur and former CEO of US-based company Nutriband, which describes itself as a 'values-based company' that manufactures abuse deterrent transdermal patches aimed specifically at opioid and fentanyl abuse, took questions on his finances, a united Ireland, the Triple Lock, migration, the Occupied Territories Bill, and housing. Gareth Sheridan answering questions from the media in Dublin today. Christina Finn Christina Finn So what did he have to say? Here's a rundown: How much money does he have? Sheridan's net worth right now is around €16 million and he has €500,000 cash in the bank to fund his presidential campaign. If he wins the election, he would likely place any Nutribrand company interests in a trust fund. He rents an apartment in Dublin with his wife and daughter, paying out over €3,000 per month. He drives a 2021 used Mercedes hybrid. What councils does he claim he has in the bag in terms of a nomination? Sheridan claims he has Tipperary and Laois councils backing his nomination, but stayed coy on the other two councils required. In order to run for president, a person needs at least four local authorities to nominate them or at least 20 Oireachtas members. Would he sign the Occupied Territories Bill into law as president? Sheridan said he would have 'no issue whatsoever' in signing the bill into law. Once the legislation is passed by the Oireachtas, the president must sign it into law. The former pharma boss said that he 'shares the opinions of the majority of the country, if not the entire country, that what's happening now in Palestine is nothing short of a disgrace'. 'When you start weaponising food and water and children are dying. I think it's the utmost finality of evil. Essentially, I think Israel will be on the wrong side of history indefinitely for what's going on over there. So I just want to make that point really clear,' he told The Journal. Advertisement He added that he has no shares that are linked to Israel. Did his company pay an Israeli hospital that trains Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers $50,000 as part of a medical technology deal? The Ditch reported yesterday that his company paid an Israeli hospital that trains Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers $50,000 as part of a medical technology deal. Sheridan told The Journal the 2020 transaction was connected with two doctors who happened to work at the hospital. They had developed a device that liquefied tablets for people that couldn't swallow or were incapacitated. The device would do very well in terms of treating people on the spot, explained Sheridan. 'It was a technology that we thought was very interesting, will be impactful on the world. Essentially, we took a gamble on it. The technology itself needed far more development than we initially thought… We don't have a continuing relationship,' he said. Was he fined in 2018 for making misleading statements about his company? Yes, he was fined $25,000. Nutriband was investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission over company filings in the US. The (SEC) is is an independent federal agency of the US government that is responsible for regulating the securities markets and protecting investors. The SEC fine was related to a disclosure on a product that Sheridan says they were planning to launch with FDA approval. He told reporters they relied upon the advice from two attorneys and the dermatologist advising the company on that particular product. 'It happened to be a wrong opinion, and we basically took our fine and our cease and desist and said he will not do it again. We've had an excellent relationship with the SEC since. It was an honest mistake. You pay your dues and you move on,' he said. Did his mother object to social housing? After a story appeared in the Irish Examiner today, Sheridan confirmed that his mother did object to a housing project through her work. He said his mother 'broke down' when Sheridan asked her about it yesterday. 'It's something that is not in the personality of my mother by any means. My mother grew up in social housing. You know, she is one of my inspirations to tackle the housing crisis, and she's fully behind it. So I'm just really stressed about that. As a family, we find this as a core issue that needs to be tackled,' he said. What does he think about immigration and racist attacks? Asked about the recent attacks on the Indian community, Sheridan said 'it's certainly troubling but has become a 'little bit more prominent' now. 'I really stress that if that's something that you support or get behind, and I'm definitely not your candidate,' he said today. Describing immigration and migration in general as a 'tricky subject', Sheridan said these are 'not statistics at the end of the day. We're talking about people'. 'I think we have a migration problem both ways, right? We have an emigration problem because the youth are leaving in their droves, but we don't have an immigrant problem,' he said. Related Reads The millionaire millennial seeking the presidency: How did Gareth Sheridan get so rich? Catherine Connolly is using American-style grassroots fundraising for her presidential campaign Catherine Connolly, presidential hopeful, has given her first press conference — here's what she said The Journal / YouTube Sheridan said the government were unprepared and lacked foresight with the immigration system, which he said was set up in an inadequate way to deal with the inflow of people that want to move here. 'It should be no surprise to us that Ireland has become a destination where people want to live and want to raise a family and want to grow their life, and we should have seen that coming,' he said. 'But we also have to understand that immigration is healthy for the economy, right? It's a matter of making sure that we all get along,' he added. Is he against removing the Triple Lock? Sheridan said today that he is against changes to the Triple Lock. This is one of the key pieces of legislation that the next president may have to sign off on if government is successful in pushing it through. The triple lock system dictates that Irish troops in groups of more than 12 cannot be deployed abroad without approval from Cabinet, the Dáil and a resolution from the United Nations Security Council. The changes proposed by government include removing the UN Security Council element. 'I think we're Irish first and European second and they need to listen to the people a little bit more,' said Sheridan. 'I think there's an overwhelming objection of the idea that we would move forward with that. And I want to stress that we're militarily neutral, but we've never been morally neutral, and that's important as well,' he said. Would Sheridan like to see a united Ireland? Sheridan said it is something he would love to see in his lifetime, but he said it is a complex issue that cannot be rushed. He told the media that the idea of a united Ireland needs to be 'very seriously thought out', stating that 'the narrative that we need to rush to bring that through is a little bit unprepared'. Is housing going to be one of his key talking points? Yes, Sheridan said he is not going to bring his toolbox and start building houses, but he will champion the issue. My ideal home here is we claim to 'make Ireland home again'. He said there has been complete ignorance to Article 41.21 of the Constitution which enshrines the right to a peoples' domestic needs. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
Presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan says he has backing of two councils
Presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan has said he has support in Tipperary and Laois county councils. The businessman, who officially launched his campaign in Dubin this morning, says he is confident he can be proposed and seconded by six local authorities, but would not be drawn on the other four. Anyone hoping to get their name on the ballot requires the support of four councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas. A sitting president can also nominate themselves. Mr Sheridan said his campaign is focused on housing, and that he wants to 'make Ireland home again'. He points to article 45.2.1 of the Constitution which requires the State to direct its policy towards securing that citizens may "through their occupations, find the means of making reasonable provision for their domestic needs". Mr Sheridan said this means working people should be able to afford to buy a home in Ireland. He added that he would hold the Dáil to account over housing failures.
