Mr. Robbie Sinnott:

The question on low-hanging fruit is the best one. Regarding what can be done immediately, we are about to move from the NDIS to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities implementation plan. According to the UN's first report on Argentina's compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities it stated that DPOs are at the core of the human rights approach to disability or the human rights model of disability. In Ireland DPOs are like an endangered species; it is very hostile territory for DPOs. There is no real safe space for DPOs even though paragraph 49 of general comment 7 states that there needs to be DPO-only consultation at every level of the state. These are rights. Article 4.3 is cross-cutting according to paragraph 3 of general comment 7 and paragraph 68 of general comment 7. That means it governs all other articles, including 4.4, 29 and everything else.

There is hostility towards those trying to champion DPO rights. I have been accused of being adversarial, awkward, arrogant and all sorts of things. I have been told that people are outraged at the prospect of DPO rights. Our organisation is totally voluntary. Most DPO operators in Ireland are totally voluntary and get no assistance.

In the context of a long-term structure, it will have to rely on DPOs. That does not remotely shut out individuals but, as the UNCRPD states, DPOs must be the basis of what we are doing in the UNCRPD implementation plan. As far as I know, there is no DPO representing Ireland on the EDF. We have a very long way to go. As I said, in trying to champion DPO rights, in various contexts, I have been victimised, bullied, etc.

The working group on people with disabilities is to be taken under the remit of the electoral commission. Currently, Voice of Vision Impairment is the only DPO represented on the group. I suspect that is because of the court case. It needs to change to include greater DPO presentation. At the moment, because we are the only DPO represented, we find ourselves among a whole lot of service providers and trying to explain the role of DPOs. Unfortunately, Irish service providers are part of the hostility we have experienced and are not helping in the promotion of DPOs generally. The role of DPOs is key. We are not looking to shut out individuals but DPOs must be central to the implementation of the UNCRPD. If we are not adhering to the convention, I do not know why we ratified it in the first place.