Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Committee on Disability Matters
Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed)
2:00 am
Dr. Iris Elliott:
More generally IHREC has commented on the right to decent work. We did a report outlining the key components of decent work across six different dimensions.
There is a particular concern around how people are employed within disability services. As Mr. Herrick said, we have a code of practice awaiting publication on reasonable accommodation in work but we also have a code of practice on the public sector duty. The public sector duty includes services that are provided in voluntary and private sector organisations. There is a standard there in terms of health and safety for workers in those lower-paid sectors and having access to an adequate income. There is a systemic issue around how disability supports are provided and how services are funded. There is a strong question about whether they are human rights and equality compliant in terms of decent work. These are long-standing issues about the decent work experience of people who work in those services.