John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is the Government's intention to ratify the UN convention as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary requirements under the convention are being met.

The interdepartmental committee established by my Department to advise on and monitor the legislative and administrative actions required to enable the State to ratify the convention has developed a work programme that is being actively addressed by Departments. The Disability Act 2005, underpinned by the national disability strategy, meets a considerable portion of the convention's requirements. In so far as my Department is concerned, the mental capacity Bill, which is in the course of being drafted by Parliamentary Counsel, forms an important part of what is required to facilitate ratification of the convention. Work on what is involved by way of implementation of the various other provisions in the convention, which are extensive, continues in the relevant Departments.

The Government's decision on the matter of ratification of the convention will be made in due course, as it must, on the basis of being fully satisfied that all requirements are met in each Department.

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