Fine Gael's spokesman on disability had to apologise to delegates who were unable to access the rostrum at the ardfheis, because of the lack of a ramp.
During a session on "fair and accessible services", the party's spokesman on disability, Mr David Stanton said he was "embarrassed that people in wheelchairs can't put their point on the platform because there are no ramps".
Ms Mary Tierney, from Galway West, expressed her anger that the same thing had happened to people in wheelchairs at the party's last major gathering in November last year and asked "are we going to sit back in Fine Gael like the Government".
She said: "If I arrived here on horseback there would be much more respect for me." Ms Tierney demanded that the Disability Bill be "nothing less than a rights-based Bill".
Mr Stanton challenged the Government to publish the Disability Bill now. "I am informed that the Bill is ready but the Government is holding back until after the elections because it does not come anywhere near what is needed."
Alderman Anna Fenlon of Wexford, who was also unable to access the rostrum, said that 10 years after it was first recommended, "we're still waiting for this Bill". Addressing the audience directly she said: "I look like you, I talk like you but I'm not treated like you."
She said that 360,000 people or "one in every 10 people has a disability" and she demanded: "Give us our rights."
Ms Fenlon added that the Government was "very good at making promises but masters at reneging on them". Fine Gael "will make sure this is an issue. They will not get away with what they're doing to us."
Earlier the party's spokesman on Social and Family Affairs, Mr Michael Ring, called for the Government to tax the super-wealthy and to "leave the poor alone".
Cllr Phonsie Travers from Ballyshannon, Donegal, said there were huge differences in quality of service to older people by the different health board. They viewed family care as a "free resource". The ardfheis backed his motion recognising party policy to maintain older people "with dignity and independence in their own homes".
