“WE HAD MARRIAGE equality there in May, when am I going to get my equality?
I have the same rights as everybody else but without the adequate funding that I need to live my life I will never ever be an equal citizen in this country and that is not good enough in 2015.
Shelly Gaynor was among those protesting outside Government Buildings this week.
Speaking about the discussion the protesters had with the Taoiseach last night, Gaynor added: “I was very disheartened with what went on last night…we didn’t leave that table after two hours of a discussion with anything concrete.
Lead campaigner Martin Naughton, who was also at the meeting, said: “After a very short period of time, it became obvious to us that they either didn’t understand what we were looking for, or they did not want to understand.”
Speaking at a press conference outside Leinster House this afternoon, Naughton added:
“Give us the money, don’t give it to big national institutions. If there is a screw up in our lives, and there might be, let that screw up be our screw up.”
The money of Irish taxpayers is going to national organisations so that they can tell us when we can go to the toilet, when we can eat, when we can sleep, what we can dream of…we want those choices to be our choices.
He also told reporters at the conference, “Don’t ask how many people get out of institutions, ask how many people they incarcerated.”
Naughton expressed his disappointment in the meeting, saying:
We certainly didn’t stay out overnight to shake the Taoiseach’s hand, we could do that anytime. We could give him the right photograph at anytime.
“Why are direct payments not a reality, but only a dream in our hearts.”
Addressing Kenny’s promise to met the group again in three months time, Naughton added, “I’m happy any day to have tea and coffee. You are a gentleman but you don’t understand.”
Originally published 4.22pm.
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