Words matter across all walks of life, including the Dáil – Carrigy

Misinformed comments on autism highlights the need for care and caution when speaking about autism and other conditions throughout society, a Fine Gael Deputy has said.

Deputy Micheál Carrigy, Chairperson of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism made his comments in response to remarks made by Deputy Danny Healy Rae this week in the Dáil, where he asked if autism was caused by a vitamin deficiency.

Deputy Carrigy said: “The Deputy’s comments caused hurt to people on the autism spectrum and their families and that is regrettable. I can only assume it was never his intention to cause this hurt or to spread misinformation, but comments like that do have consequences and it’s important they are called out.

“Words matter. How conditions are referred to, described and what they may be attributed to, it matters. It matters to those on the autism spectrum. It matters to their families. It matters to their friends. It’s important the information is accurate and it’s important that the language is correct.

“Since December 2022, the Houses of the Oireachtas has been working with AsIAm, Ireland’s autism charity, to make Leinster House more accessible for people on the autism spectrum. An ‘Understanding Autism’ programme has also been made available to all parliamentarians and their staff and I am very encouraged by the numbers who have completed this training.

“We all have a responsibility to get things right. But particularly those of us in Dáil Éireann, who represent the people of our constituencies, publicly and under the scrutiny of the nation, our responsibility is even greater. I would call on those who have not undertaken this training to do so, to ensure they are armed with correct information when making their remarks.”