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

My question is for Councillor Bailey and for other witnesses. I thank everybody for their contributions. One of the matters that has been raised at every committee meeting, including this one, is the ratification of the optional protocol of the UN convention, and that it obviously needs to be done urgently. Dr. Rath asked what we as Oireachtas Members will do. I reassure witnesses that, as a committee, we have agreed to formally push the Government to ratify the optional protocol immediately. That is just one action we can take; there are obviously many more also.

Dr. Rath also suggested that all parties should take a cross-party pledge to promote and support the election of disabled candidates. Councillor Cronnelly spoke about gender quotas. I am a supporter of them. When considering who is elected and the demographics thereof, ultimately, the buck stops with political parties in regard to that. I would like to hear from the stakeholder group and from the councillors. What form should that cross-party approach take? What should and could parties do? We could then bring their suggestions back to our political parties to improve participation.