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

I thank everyone for their presentations. I was thinking about CBM Ireland there. On the SDGs, the achievements in Ireland far outpace progress across much of the world. It should be a concern for all that while Ireland is achieving 80% of the SDGs on our own soil, globally only 15% of the targets are on track. What are the main reasons only 15% of the SDG targets are being met? What developed countries are lagging behind in helping to implement these targets on a global basis?

I note the proportion of women with disabilities who are employed in general. The figure for women is something around 20% and for men is around 58%. How is that being addressed? I assume there are probably other reasons women with disabilities are faring much worse. It could be due to religious reasons or different things. Is there a guide on that, and do we have any idea why that is?

On the Department of Foreign Affairs, I was looking at the situations in conflict zones, and in particular Ukraine. It is clear that those with disabilities in Ukraine are said to be facing life-threatening barriers such as a lack of accessible shelter, a lack of inclusive evacuation plans and humanitarian corridors, and a lack of access to information on healthcare. These problems are said to be more acute when it comes to children and those in residential institutions. All have faced numerous challenges since the start of the war, and recently we have seen a further situation developing, and another war. Access to education has also been severely curtailed for children with disabilities, especially those who have been internally displaced. Many institutions have also ended up in occupied territories and have been damaged or destroyed. How is development aid being used to support these people in these circumstances? The witnesses might give us some idea.

The European disabilities fund has campaigned for a ban on the construction and renovation of residential institutions in favour of a transition to community-based care in Ukraine. That is what we have seen here a lot. We are trying to get people mixed into the community as opposed to having residential institutions. Is this a realistic option in Ukraine, considering the complications a full-scale war would have in trying to integrate people with disabilities into a community setting, when so many communities have been displaced, or have had their buildings and infrastructure destroyed? I wonder how difficult those sorts of goals are.

I want to mention that as the witnesses know, Ireland has not fully signed up to the UNCRPD, and we have not ratified the optional protocol. We are talking about 2030, so has this a bearing on any of the targets?