Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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This amendment addresses both articles 8 and 29 of the convention, dealing with accessibility and participation in political and public life. The Deputy mentioned some examples of polling stations that are not accessible. That is unacceptable to me as the Minister of State with responsibility in this area. While I am completely in agreement with the spirit of the amendment proposed I have a number of concerns at the precise manner in which it has been drafted, and I cannot support it as a result. The proposed amendment cuts across the broader reform of electoral law currently being undertaken by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Phelan. As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan has recently established a working group on disability voting, the work of which is ongoing. The group comprises key stakeholders, representing people with disability. Members of this group include representatives from the National Disabilities Authority, the Disability Federation of Ireland, the National Council for the Blind, the Blind Legal Alliance and the Irish Wheelchair Association. The working group is dominated by stakeholders. Its terms of reference provide that its role is to examine and to make recommendations on issues that arise under a number of headings, including improving accessibility to polling stations for voters with physical disabilities, particularly wheelchair users, with the goal for all polling stations to be fully accessible as soon as possible. The Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, has shown a clear commitment to addressing this issue to ensure that all polling stations will be fully accessible as soon as possible. Work is already under way to this end. The expertise available within the group will provide a clear understanding of the actions required to ensure that polling stations are accessible.

I hope the committee will agree that it is preferable not to undertake piecemeal reform in this area but rather to implement a reform process that is solidly rooted in the perspective of people with disabilities who are directly affected. Reform of electoral law is already under way, and we should let it move along strongly.