Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and his officials for the presentation. The delay in progressing the implementation of the rights of people with disabilities has led to the perception of Ireland as one of the worst places in western Europe for a person who is disabled and it does question the State's commitment to the realisation of these rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, was ratified in 2018. It is now five years later and the optional protocol has still not been ratified and we still have no date. Will the Minister discuss his insight into the overall delay as regards the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland and the main reasons for the delay? Will he also discuss the timeline for full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022? Will the Minister also elaborate whether the NDIS has been extended for another year, given that it expired at the end of 2022? With no UNCRPD implementation plan in place, will the Minister highlight what provisions are in place for people with disabilities? There is a gap there if he could tell the committee how it is currently being filled? Will the Minister also give the committee some insight into the potential conflicts and legal problems? It is not good enough that we do not have a date or a picture of when we will have full ratification. My read of this is that it will drag on for a number of years. I hope I am wrong but perhaps the Minister will elaborate on that.