Disability: Disabled people currently able to live independently will be forced into institutions under the new Disability Bill, a disabled person told the conference.
In a message read to the conference, Dún Laoghaire party member Mary Collins said she was currently living independently with help from four part-time carers. However, she feared that the definition of disabled in the legislation, which passed in the Dáil last week, could threaten her levels of assistance.
"Going into an institution would be like going into a concentration camp," said Ms Collins, whose message was read by Angela Timlin.
In a speech greeted by a standing ovation, Tipperary North delegate Brian Aylward said the Government is treating the disabled with "complete disrespect".
"The Government claims that to give rights to the disabled would be to use resources that they haven't got. That is the time-honoured excuse that has always been used."
The legislation passed by the Oireachtas will not give the disabled the protection offered by the Equal Status Act, or other equality legislation passed during the 1990s. Labour should campaign in favour of the disabled because of its fundamental values and belief in freedom, equality, community and solidarity, Mr Aylward said to loud cheers.
Delegates passed an emergency motion "guaranteeing in its election manifesto, as a matter of priority, a complete reversal and reworking of the fundamentally flawed Disability Bill from duty based to rights based and adequately-resourced disability legislation, elaborated in partnership with the disability community".
Such legislation "must be one of the primary conditions for entering any coalition government and an essential component of a new programme for government", the motion continued.
Cork North Central TD Kathleen Lynch said the Government has repeatedly urged opponents to "trust" them during debate on the legislation, when they faced questions about funding.
"The last thing we should do is trust this government. We should scrap this piece of legislation," said Ms Lynch, who spoke on behalf of Labour during the Dáil debate. The disability community had been "the most patient people" she had met during the negotiations on the legislation - perhaps, too patient.
