Mr. Gary Lee:

On behalf of the Center for Independent Living, Mr. McCabe and I thank the committee for its invitation to appear before it this morning. Tracing its roots back to the civil rights movement in the US in the 1960s, the Center for Independent Living has been established in Ireland for the past 25 years. We are a national disabled people's organisation and, as such, are governed by people with disabilities. The philosophy and ethos of the Center for Independent Living is reflected in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We believe disability is not intrinsic to the person, rather it arises as a result of barriers created by society or societal failures to make accommodations to ensure people can participate in their communities. The convention is about protecting, promoting and ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of people with disabilities. It does not create any new rights but rather collates existing rights into one comprehensive international treaty. It is therefore not surprising that it was the fastest negotiated human rights treaty ever.

Last March marked the tenth anniversary of the signing of the convention. A total of 172 countries have ratified it. However, Ireland, to its absolute shame, has not yet done so. Ireland is alone among European Union member states in this regard. In a sign of the importance of the convention, the European Union itself took the unprecedented step of ratifying it. This marked the first time the European Union has ratified an international human rights treaty. It beggars belief that Ireland has not ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is an affront to our citizens with disabilities and to those who gave their lives for an independent Irish State. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic speaks of guaranteeing "equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens", yet 100 years later people with disabilities in Ireland enjoy fewer rights than their UK counterparts.

It is clear that disability is not a priority for the State. Our national disability strategy lapsed 12 months ago. A new strategy, which took almost 18 months to complete and which, we understand, has been ready since January, has not yet been published. Why is the Government dragging its heels and delaying the introduction of the new disability strategy? The Center for Independent Living is carefully considering its position on the national disability strategy implementation group, given we cannot monitor and implement what does not exist. This should not be taken as criticism of our Minister of State with responsibility for disability, whose bona fides are not in question, but rather the lack of appropriate devolved powers and supports given to him.

Of obvious importance to the committee is Article 25 of the convention which deals exclusively with health. We wish, however, to underline specifically the importance of Article 25(c) which requires that health services be provided as close as possible to people's communities, including rural areas, and Article 25(d) which relates to raising awareness of the human rights, dignity, autonomy and needs of persons with disabilities through training and promulgation of ethical standards for public and private health care.

Well-being is covered throughout the convention. Today in Ireland, at least 2,500 people with disabilities live in institutions, with a further 1,100 under the age of 65 inappropriately placed in nursing homes. Census data show us that Irish people with disabilities have significantly poorer educational outcomes and job opportunities and are far more likely to experience poverty than their non-disabled peers. Ordinary things like choosing what time to get up, what to have for breakfast and what to wear are denied to many, as is accessing public transport, socialising, marrying, having a family and other norms of life. Basic challenges arise. For example, wheelchair users must give at least 24 hours' notice to Iarnród Éireann should they wish to use the DART. The same applies to Bus Éireann.

This presentation is a joint document, and my colleague, Mr. Michael McCabe, chairperson of the Center Independent Living, has asked me to make the presentation on behalf of the centre. Michael can tell the committee of an experience from last week where he gave more than 24 hours' notice to get a bus from Navan to Dublin but the bus that arrived was not accessible. Michael had to get a taxi instead, which cost €70. If we do not have an accessible transport system, it has a knock-on effect around health services. Health and well-being should not be confined to a health-based medical model or system. This issue is wider than just health. I thank the committee for hearing us today and we are certainly happy to answer any questions later on.