Dr. Aideen Hartney:

The National Disability Authority, NDA, is not a disabled people's organisation, DPO, or a statutory advisory body but our advice to Government has been reflective of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD and the provisions in Article 4(3) and we advise that DPOs should be consulted and participate throughout any matter of policy and practice relevant to the lives of people with disabilities. We are conscious that there many people who do not wish to belong to a DPO or who do not have a DPO for the particular disability with which they are concerned. Our advice and practice is to try to cast the net as widely as possible, in addition to consulting with DPOs, because it is important to capture as many perspectives as possible in order that they can inform the advice we give to Government or the guidance we develop. We agree that the funding model needs to be examined. I understand that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is looking at that now as part of a development of a longer-term UNCRPD implementation strategy.