Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

My questions are for Mr. Dolan but I thank all the witnesses for their contributions. I will be brief also. Mr. Dolan highlighted the disappointment in respect of the ratification of the optional protocol. That would mean the State would be held to account for not allowing people to exercise their own rights under the UNCRPD, for example.

Mr. Dolan also spoke about the lack of housing and supports for independent supportive living. I have two brief questions. First, does he fear that the reason the optional protocol has not been ratified is because there is not the required political will across all Departments, for example, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to implement the UN convention? Second, if he has time to answer, what do we need to do to accelerate supportive living and to move away from congregated settings? Is the policy articulated in the Time to Move on from Congregated Settings strategy document a good approach if resourced and implemented properly, or would Mr. Dolan be looking at different models also?