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MARY DAVIS has pledged to appoint a person with intellectual disabilities to the Council of State – the first time in history that such a person would have sat on the Council.
Speaking at a presidential debate organised by Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with intellectual disabilities, Davis said nominating a person with intellectual disabilities would be a sign to other disabled persons that they were being recognised.
“I find it shocking that one of the first consequences of the recession was the effective shelving of the Disability Act and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act,” Davis told the debate at the Mansion House in Dublin.
She added that it was “grossly unfair” for disabled persons had to lose basic rights, and endure cuts to “an already very modest disability allowance”, when the economy had turned.
The Council of State is a special body which can be convened by the President to advise them on the use of their discretionary powers, such as the referral of laws to the Supreme Court.
Also speaking at the debate, Seán Gallagher said Ireland needed to focus on what it could do to help those with intellectual disabilities, and not those things which it could not do.
He added that a “mature society” valued its most vulnerable members, and called for a greater awareness that people with disability had certain entitlements.
Michael D Higgins lamented Ireland’s delay in ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and said the forthcoming Mental Capacity Bill would help to bring about a culture of “assisted citizenship”.
Gay Mitchell commented that he wished to be seen as an inclusive President, remarking that inclusiveness was an absolute quality, and said he would use the Gaisce award to encourage involvement in disability outreach programmes.
Martin McGuinness commented that not enough had been done during the Celtic Tiger era to help those with disabilities, and that whatever gains had been made were now under threat. He said people with disabilities had “taken their rightful place as first-class citizens”.
David Norris said he hoped to use the presidency to act as a voice for the marginalised, and commented that while people with disabilities were equal to others, they were excluded “because Ireland isn’t included”.
Dana Rosemary Scallon did not attend this morning’s event, which was moderated by Miriam O’Callaghan.
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“A number of people took to Aer Lingus’ Facebook page to complain about the situation, saying it resulted in people missing weddings and other events due to take place today”
Eh, it was hardly Aer Lingus’ fault for a thunderstorm happening was it?
Morons.
The thunderstorm is ISIS related. Apparently the would be tewwowist is under the weather and wants to strike the Aer Lingus infidels with a rod of lightening!
“tewwowist” – imagine Jonathan Ross is reading the news.
They can also claim €250 compensation from aer lingus for being delayed for more than 3 hours, it’s an IATA regulation regarding delayed flights within the EU. They shouldn’t have cut it so fine if they planned to go to a family ceremony, you should always factor in delays when travelling.
I am still figuring out the stupidest stuff yet till my next comment!! So far the journal and few other commentators are winning!!
Those IATA refunds don’t cover acts of God.
Not due to weather
Not for a weather related delay they can’t.
Airport Closed. How was that a fault with Aer Lingus ? Complaining seems to be a hobby with some people, get over it !
How is this news?
In other news, were building a bridge and we just need some water to go under it
Your reading it arent you lol
Shoddy reporting and a misrepresentation of the facts from our online sleuths at the Journal.ie – hence the quick volley of self righteous condemnation from the pythonesque peoples court.
People on board didn’t complain about having to disembark the plane. On the contrary, the lightening and thunder show around us made the decision easier. The frolics started thereafter when the villans of the piece, namely the Swissport “agents”, acting on behalf of Aer Lingus, got involved.
Frequent flyers and seasoned travellers know the Spiel when something like this happens – but the majority on board were holidaymakers (families, first time flyers etc), unfamilar with the nuts and bolts that such a situation brings with it. They were left in the hands of three highly incompetent south american Swissport agents (think Manuel from Faulty Towers meets Mr. Bean with a topping of a hyperactive Carmen Miranda) who could bearly get a sentence across their lips in English or German. A chaos ensued that could easily have been avoided!
A good 20% of the passengers (myself included) headed home with promises from Carmen et al that we’d recieve a call or text in the morning, informing us of our new flight time on Saturday – it never happened. No one at the Aer Lingus hotline (25 minute wait) could tell us either.
Made our way back to the Airport at 8:30 after a very short night to be met by the daytime crew of Swissport “agents” led this time by a robust Valkyrie, with enough spraytan to cover an Airbus A380 and the attitude of a Rattlesnake with a monster hangover (the omens were not good).
Again no flighttime was communicated. We were herded into a pen (beyond security controls) with the promise of breakfast and a definite flighttime.
Hours later, a very tired, hungry and remarkably patient group of passengers were “served” breakfast (a mini bottle of mineral water and a mini swissroll) by the said Valkyrian. No updates given, just aggresive refutes (I know nothing, so back off) from our teutonic tank. Kids, wheelchair bound passengers etc left tired and starving. Feeding ourselves wasn’t an option, seeing that we weren’t allowed back out into the main terminal from our pen.
All avoidable with some common sense and an action plan in place for such occurences. We finally boarded at 2:15. The Pilot, an absolute gentleman, apologised profusely and his crew were brilliant, feeding the hungry hoarde with free Pringles, sandwiches and chocolate (they quite rightly hid the alcohol).
Tarring the passengers, as some have done on here, as a whinging mass of ungreatful moaners is grossly unfair. A remarkably patient, tolerant and friendly bunch of people given that they were treated abominably by the Swissport incompetents.
As for Aer Lingus: kudos to you for providing a hotel when you didn’t have to (Lufthansa left hundreds of passengers to sleep overnight in Terminal 1with ruptions ensuing). I’d only question the wisdom of your decision in replacing your highly professional and experienced ground staff at FFM Airport with external, highly incompetent and wholly unprofessional, third party vendors
Best comment I have ever read on the Journal .. From another frequent Traveller !! Loved the A380 comparison .. I think I’ve met her before ..
Slow news day
Lufthansa flight to Dublin was also cancelled because of the storm delay. Stuff happens.
I was on that flight – completely agree that the thunderstorm was not the fault of aer lingus but the way we were treated is their fault. I paid 300+ quid to them and they sub contracted a bunch of clueless amateurs in Frankfurt airport. All we wanted was some information as to what was happening and when we were likely to leave but nothing back only lies and miss information given to make us go away. A lot of anger and tears could have been avoided by simply telling us what was likely to happen. Not a major issue considering some of the other news stories on here as we all got home safe but the frustrating part was it was all avoidable if someone from aer lingus would have communicated with and not avoided us.
Not easy when the airline dont know whats happening, plans change so much but the priority would be to get vack to Dublin if possible.
FRA airport failed by allowinf aircraft to taxi, they were fully aware of the closure so why rhey cleared push back is a big question.
Hi Paul – fully agree with that regarding last night and the confusion – we were told however we would fly back at 12 today, then delayed till 1, then told it was 3. Not a word from aer lingus just announcements from the ground staff on each delay with no additional information as to why. Just flight delayed by two hours and then they ran off. Nobody knew what was happening but clearly their had to have been some additional information we could have been told but weren’t.
Aer Lingus has no employees in Frankfurt so you are relying on Swissport. Agree, in these situations professionalism is required, but having been in a similar situation, passengers also have a tendency to “hassle the hell” out of the staff and exacerbate the situation. Judging by some of the passengers gripes over missing events back home because of the delay, wouldn’t surprise me if they were the most vociferous and dare I say it unreasonable??
21 hrs without any clue what has happening. 21 hrs for a 2 hr flight. Hardly an over reaction to ask to be told when you were likely to be going home.
Cormac.
I’m sure it was hard going and costly and stressful.
But:
- Aer Lingus have no staff on the ground.
- They took all instructions from the airport. What you experienced, so did every other delayed flight.
- I’ve been in that situation more the once, more often than not on an Irish bound flight from the US. Only one thing to do – don’t wait for the airline. Get your own hotel and taxi knowing it will all be expensed to €250 value, keep an eye online for flight details and find a high stool and a compassionate bar man.
Learnt the hard way – that will be the plan if and when it happens again
I can’t understand all the red thumbs to this comment. Its fair and reasonable.
Ah first world problems
Surely the curfew is a noise issue for the residents near the airport. The thunderstorns must be quieter during the curfew or they will be banned as well.
So This a is a newsworthy article? A flight was delayed. Big swinging M****y. Sheesh.. really scraping the barrel Journal. Sigh.
Aer Linger
Aer Langers
Aer heads ^
Aren’t planes built to sustain lighting strikes?? There has been lots of thunderstorm activity around that area but the rest seemed to manage.
Did you not read the story,
The airport temporarily closed due to a lightning storm, by the time the airport reopened it was near its curfew with flight back logs, the Shamrock was taxi-ing out but then got told the airport was closed cause it was the curfew time.
Ah yeah. I see but since it was taxi-ing out it should of been allowed take off. Regardless the headline makes it out different?
No its something the Germans are very strict on, any UK, French or Spanish airport and they would have continued open to free up the back log but zee Germans have dont bend the rules
Diverted to refuel on a recent trip from Portugal delayed in Shannon for 3 hours not allowed off the plane and not even a bottle of water given to passengers. We had already been informed that the catering trolley had been V busy on the flight out and was not restocked. I complained to Aer Lingus by è mail the following day 14th June and received a confirmation of receipt from them however despite two phone calls and follow up e mail I have never received a reply. Customer service is a thing of the past with Aer Lingus. I shall just have to speak with my feet and fly Ryanair. Aer Lingus has gone to the dogs. .
Aer hole ^
Lots of Lightning still in Germany
My brother and I were caught up In this ordeal but we were flying home with Lufthansa. Never in my life have we been treated so badly – all the Lufthansa desks were closed when we finally got off the plane in which we were waiting 2 hours, which meant we couldn’t get transfer and hotel vouchers forcing us to sleep in the airport and wait to catch an Aer Lingus flight home at 10pm last night. Never again Lufthansa.
OK negative folk. Delays occur when travelling we understand. Here is the actual story step by step so you can judge if it was a run of the mill normal delay.
Due to leave Frankfurt at 8:45 last night. Little thunderstorm delayed things while they suspended operations. Got on plane at 23:15, sat until 12:00 on plane doing nothing. Pushed back from stand on ramp waiting to take off. Told then that there’s a curfew of 12:00 and flight can’t leave. Sent to baggage hall to reclaim bags to be told u could be waiting a couple hours for your bags. Went to ticket desk where nobody knew anything. Told wait for a bus to a hotel but we don’t know when the bus will get here. After an hour or so we were sent back inside to collect our bags then back to the ticket desk for further chaos. Eventually we were told if u don’t want to wait for the bus u can pay for a taxi to the hotel we booked and claim later from aer lingus. So after a while waiting for a taxi I got in with two other nice folk I met there and we shared the taxi fare of 68 Euro after the taxi driver faffed about trying to get out through the barriers for five mins as all was closed. Arrived then at the hotel to a que for check in as one might expect with one night Porter to check us all in. Got to my room at 3:30 am and fell asleep. Got woken at 8:00am told bus to airport is at 9:00. Went down and got breakfast only to be told breakfast is not included and I had to pay 18 Euro for brekkie. Back to airport on half hour journey and waited at check in desk to be told sorry the 10:50 flight has to go first and our flight was scheduled for 12:00. Eventually after the 10:50 flight closed we got to check in our bags where the desk clerk wrote go to gate E4 and we were told the flight will now depart at 13:00. OK so went to gate E4 where I had to que and go through security. A few of us waited around there for a while until someone asked what’s happening only then to be told we switched gates. Now go to gate D54. So after hassle to get back through security we walk to completely the other side of the terminal where we go through security screening again. Inside the gate holding area there’s nothing more than a couple of vending machines. So we wait and wait and wait. The 13:00 flight looks less likely now as its 12:45 and nothing’s happening. Then they come out with water and juice and a small slice of Swiss roll each. We are then told there’s no crew. Bags are loaded buses waiting but the crew are still back a half hour away in the hotel. The ground handling girls use a passengers phone to ring the hotel to try get the crew to come down. She sends the buses for the plane away. 14:15 we are told hurray the crew are in the plane but now we must wait for buses to get you to the plane. 14:45 a bus pulls up. I’m first out and me along with 6 or 7 others get through onto the bus only to be told sorry this bus is for the Istanbul plane so u have to get off. Back off waiting again. Next bus arrives. Are u the aer lingus bus? No! The ground agent talked to him and changed his mind after he made a phonecall or two. 15:00 on the plane all good waiting to go. Pilot comes on to say we are ready to go all packed in all accounted for but waiting on ground handlers to bring up paperwork which should be about 15 mins. 15:30 we take off finally. The crew were great free food and drinks in plane and really looked after us. None of it their fault. All aer lingus offered on arrival was a meal voucher!! R u shitting me? A meal voucher.
Proud to say despite what some on here said, that nobody really had a go at any staff or shouted etc. We all knew they were just going their job but with no leadership or direction from the airline it was a catalog of errors.
So glad to be home now with my Mrs and two little princesses!!
Don’t go blurting out rubbish about the story until you have heard the facts.
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