Ms Renee Dempsey-Clifford:

I do not want in any way to impugn those who were not selected by saying that, but it can be imagined that the selection committee sought to get those people it saw as the most reflective and best qualified group to speak on behalf of the disabled community in a monitoring context. The group itself, once formed, is inclusive of DPOs and individuals with personal disabilities who speak. These individuals are self-advocates and are not members of DPOs. In fact, very often, they have said they do not wish to be a member of a DPO, while also not wishing to be excluded because they are not in a DPO from matters relating to their lives and policy. I refer to aging parents of children with severe disabilities who are concerned about this. The various strands of the disabled community are represented, broadly speaking. I am quite sure someone could critique this and say some people are missing and others could be included, but what we have is a group that is, in my view, broadly representative of the disabled community as a whole. As I said, though, I am sure there could be critics in this regard.

On the DPOs in the context of the Deputy's other question, regarding the consultation process in this regard, and I am not being glib when I say this, the burden of the obligations of the convention falls on the State to deliver and the State must find the appropriate formula to meet Article 4.3 and other articles of course relating to the engagement of persons with disabilities in the development of policy-----