Capacity2Change hits Maynooth!

Wednesday 3rd December

Hi everyone!

Today I'm going to tell you all about our visit to Maynooth YFG! It was very exciting because not only was it our first meeting out of Dublin, it was also our first overnight stay following a focus group! My fabulous friend, Kirsty Kinsella, studies in Maynooth, and insisted on us staying with her when she heard I was coming. We accepted immediately, delighted that we wouldn't have to rush to get a train back to Dublin after the meeting, and then rush from Connolly to O' Connell Street to get a bus home! 

We met outside Trinity at 10 to 7 and practically ran all the way to Connolly. We ran through the station, and made it onto the train just before it pulled out of the station! Talk about last minute! We were so excited for the meeting and spent the entire journey tweeting and posting about our upcoming focus group! We arrived in Maynooth, rushed off the train and out of the station... and realised we were completely lost! There was a thick fog covering the town, and straight ahead of us was a lake, with a small island that looked particularly menacing in the fog. Thankfully, we soon found Kirsty, who brought us to the meeting in plenty of time.

Maynooth University

The meeting itself was very stimulating. There was a huge crowd at the meeting, and we were in an actual lecture hall for the first time! The issues that were brought up during the discussion were very similar to the issues that were discussed at most of the previous meetings - how is capacity decided? What if something goes wrong? What if someone makes a decision that endangers their life? However, one of the issues brought up was completely new to us, something we had never even thought of before - what about parenthood? Would two people with intellectual disabilities be able to take care of children? We didn't have an answer... we still don't have an answer, but we hope to get one soon. Its simply a matter of research I'm sure. 

Our meeting in Maynooth

Then came the motions! We were both a little nervous that the motions wouldn't pass, particularly after the questions about parenthood which we were unable to answer. Thankfully though, they both passed. The motions were as follows: 

• Maynooth Young Fine Gael support abolition of The Ward of Court system and introduction of a functional approach to capacity

• Paternalism v Autonomy: Maynooth Young Fine Gael support a “will and preferences “ approach to people with disabilities, rather than “best interests” , as outlined in The Capacity Bill (2013).  

We would both like to thank Maynooth YFG for their support of our campaign, We had a truly wonderful time and would like to acknowledge TJ Heffernan, the chair, Kevin Smyth, PRO and Killian Foley Walsh, LRC chair for their support and help organising the meeting, and promoting the campaign. 

See you next time! 

Patricia :)