Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

As this is almost the last minute allowed for this discussion, I wish to briefly state that the Human Rights Commission's critique of section 5, as passed by the Dáil will still hold, even if amendments Nos. 1 and 2 were accepted. The critique deals with the proposed system of funding which provides Ministers and service providers wide discretion to deviate from the provision of services identified as being required, or appropriate, by persons with disabilities. The Human Rights Commission concluded that this Bill does not guarantee the progressive realisation of rights and therefore is not consistent with our obligations under international human rights law. In all the responses from the Minister of State in the course of the entire debate on the so-called Disability Bill, I never noted that he addressed the concerns raised by the Human Rights Commission and I do not know if time will allow for that this evening. This is a most unsatisfactory process.

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