Mr. Niall McLoughlin:

I thank the Cathaoirleach and I also thank the committee for the invitation to meet with the committee to discuss the sustainable development goal’s and the implementation of the UNCRPD. At the recent SDG summit 2023 in New York, political leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to “end poverty and hunger everywhere, combat inequalities within and among countries and build peaceful societies that leave no one behind.” Ireland played a key role in co-facilitating the declaration with Qatar. The Taoiseach stressed in his statement that the text must become “more than a piece of paper” and reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to the 2030 agenda achievement of the goals and ensuring that the world’s poorest and most vulnerable are not forgotten or left behind.

Agenda 2030 recognises persons with disabilities as one of the vulnerable groups at risk of being left behind. While all SDGs and targets are applicable to persons with disabilities, there are seven explicit references to persons with disabilities within SDG targets, including quality education, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, and partnerships for the goals.

While persons with disabilities are included under the definition of vulnerable persons, it is recognised that disabled persons are not inherently vulnerable but can become vulnerable through social and environmental barriers. Removing such barriers in line with the UNCRPD is key to advancing the SDGs and achieving the UN sustainable development agenda by 2030. Given the global objective of Agenda 2030, the agenda recognises that a global partnership and spirit of global solidarity with people in vulnerable situations are required to ensure its implementation. As we just heard, Ireland’s policy for international co-operation commits to reaching the furthest behind first in our efforts to support the achievement of the SDGs in developing countries, particularly to tackle extreme poverty and inequality.

To achieve a disability-inclusive society, it is important that the SDGs are implemented in line with the UNCRPD and that they work in tandem. Ireland’s national implementation plan includes the strategic objective to further incorporate the principle of "leave no one behind" into Ireland’s Agenda 2030 implementation and reporting mechanisms. The implementation plan commits to holding three hybrid national stakeholder forums each year. An SDG national stakeholder forum committee is convened annually, and its role includes ensuring the forums adapt a whole-of-society approach, ensuring increased awareness of the SDGs across society and the use of accessible communication. The UNCRPD outlines an obligation on the Government to engage with disabled people through their representative organisations. Our 2023 forum committee included a disabled persons' organisation, DPO representative, and the implementation plan emphasises the importance of engagement with DPOs. We will shortly be requesting expressions of interest from those who wish to participate on the committee for 2024.

To summarise, the committee continues to work to ensure that plain English is used in all communications and reports; that forums are hybrid events allowing access to all who wish to attend; and that sign language interpreters are present for all in-person and online communications. It also ensures that live captioning is used at all forums for our online audience; that presentations and presentation materials are made available on request in advance of all events; that an accessibility and inclusion officer is present at events; that event venues have full wheelchair access and clear facility signage is used; and that a quiet room is available to all attendants.

The January 2023 forum was specifically dedicated to defining what "leave no one behind" means in an Irish context. The 400 stakeholders who attended the forum agreed on the following definition to represent the Irish perspective of "leave no one behind":

An inclusive and empathetic society that empowers everyone to engage with and be represented in decision-making, accelerating dignity, and enabling equal opportunities and equitable outcomes.

This definition will enable us to better ensure we were adapting the SDGs to meet national needs.

The UN high-level political forum convenes in July of each year. This year, the ministerial segment was attended by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who presented Ireland’s second voluntary national review, VNR. The VNR reflects Ireland’s strong economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic and our efforts to build back better, guided by the SDGs and Agenda 2030. It also provided an accessible and inclusive space for our national network of stakeholders to review Ireland’s progress, offering their feedback and input on how they perceive Ireland is doing on progressing the SDGs. Where progress has been made, this has been acknowledged but where work remains to be done, this has also been called out.

The National Disability Authority, NDA, contributed a chapter to our VNR, along with national stakeholder groups from a variety of sectors. The NDA was asked to comment on Ireland’s progress, offering feedback and input on how it perceives us to be doing in progressing the SDGs. Contributed chapters were completed on the principle of open drafting.

This chapter, together with the January SDG national stakeholder forum, represents the beginning of the conversation on "leave no one behind", and not the end. The shared understandings and messages developed as part of the national stakeholder forum will be used to inform the development of guidance on this principle, which will be incorporated as an overarching element to progress the national implementation plan. In order to further ensure that work across government considers the needs of persons with disabilities and promotes their participation, it is intended to incorporate guidance in the SDG training course and toolkits for civil servants and local authorities. It is currently under development.

As we enter the fourth year of the decade of action for the SDGs, it is important that we realise the opportunities that Agenda 2030 offers us to create a better, more just society, and that the SDGs are implemented in line with the UNCRPD to ensure we leave no one behind.