‘Extremely disparaging and completely unfounded’: Kildare TD takes aim at Danny Healy Rae over Autism comments

A TD for South Kildare has taken aim at another TD, Danny Healy Rae, over comments he recently made in relation to Autism.

Yesterday (September 18 last), while he was speaking during a Dáil debate on special education places, the Kerry politician speculated on what he saw as a rise in Autism cases throughout Ireland.

He asked aloud: "Is it lack of some vitamins or what is it? We need to address that part of it as well, because there could be something that is causing it."

It should be noted that a 2019 analysis, which was published in 'Pediatrics', shows little to no scientific evidence that special diets can help curb repetitive behaviors and other Autism Spectrum-associated traits.

The analysis, which was made up of 27 studies which included more than 1,000 participants on the Autism Spectrum, also reported: "Only a few supplements (omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and vitamins B6, B12, C, D) appear to offer small changes relative to placebos."

READ NEXT: BREAKING: Major €5m TV studio project planned for Kildare

Today (September 19), his comments have drawn criticism from Sinn Féin TD Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, who is also her party's spokesperson for Special Education.

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh, who previously worked as a teacher, said that she was "genuinely shocked" at Deputy Healy-Rae's comments, and further called them "extremely disparaging and completely unfounded".

She elaborated: "Spouting conspiratorial beliefs on the floor of the Dáil on such a sensitive topic is unacceptable.

"The Deputy has evidently not made any meaningful effort to engage with legitimate sources of information on this topic or consult with autistic people about their experience, because if he had, he would not make such an outlandish statement."

Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh. File photograph

She continued: "The truth is that Autistic people suffer immensely in this State not only because of the lack of services — the issue we were trying to bring attention to in our motion — but also from a lack of understanding... that is what Deputy Healy Rae demonstrated: a clear lack of any engagement, empathy or understanding of lived experience. In a word, pure ignorance."

According to Deputy Ní Raghallaigh:"Negative stereotypes and tropes about Autism are rampant. Advocacy groups have been working so hard in recent years to reverse some of those really inhibiting perceptions in the public consciousness.

"That a public representative would use his voice to pedal untruthful and dehumanising discourse is very disappointing and should be rejected in the strongest possible terms."

READ NEXT: Kildare funeral home gets green light to expand

She further said: "Autistic people, young and old, are misunderstood every day of their lives, and as public representatives we have a responsibility to model behaviour and not to blithely contribute to myths fuelling misunderstanding.

"Suggesting that Autism, which is a complex neurodevelopmental condition, can somehow magically be 'fixed' by taking vitamins is pathologising people unnecessarily and unfairly.

"We know that diagnoses of Autism are rising due to increased awareness, better screening, broader diagnostic criteria and wider acceptance of difference in society."

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh also called on Deputy Healy-Rae to retract his statement and apologise to the families who were sitting in the gallery of the Dáil and watching at home "who were understandably deeply upset by what they heard".

She added: "I have written to the Ceann Comhairle asking that she facilitate this request."

AsIAm, an Irish charity which works to raise awareness on Autism, was also contacted by the Leinster Leader for comment in relation to Deputy Healy-Rae's views.

Its CEO, Adam Harris, gave the following response: "We note the most unhelpful, and deeply misinformed speech by Deputy Danny Healy-Rae last night.

"A sharp reminder that Ireland is not immune from the growth of misinformation and disinformation that we are increasingly seeing in other jurisdictions."

Mr Harris continued: "Last week, we hosted the 14th Autism Europe Congress in which we made tackling misinformation a key area of focus; the fact that the speech was made on the same day Ireland's National Disability Authority published a paper in which they noted there was no evidence of overdiagnosis in an Irish context is deeply ironic and at a time in which our organisation is running a public information campaign on Autism and misinformation.

"We would ask all Oireachtas Members to think about the impact of their words before they use their platform to add to the pervasive stigma, myths and hurtful stereotypes that not only cause hurt but create barriers to diagnosis and support and pose broader public health concerns."

Mr Harris further said that Autism is a natural variation in human neurology: "There is not more Autistic people than in the past, but there are more people accessing diagnosis.

"Deputy Healy-Rae referenced the importance of timely access to support for Autistic people and families; this is where his energy should be focused on, not on misleading and ungrounded information. 

"His comments highlight the opportunity to ensure no one goes without support their whole lives — our politicians should focus on creating responsive public services that respond to that urgent need."

Mr Harris concluded: "We remain available at any stage to engage with political representatives who would like to increase their knowledge of Autism or need guidance on separating fact from fiction."

READ NEXT: ‘Frightening experience’ inside Kildare apartment detailed by garda