Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

That is the hope of the Department. On the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Ireland was in the first group of countries to sign, subject to ratification. It is the Government's intention to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary requirements under that convention are being met. There will be no undue delay in the State's ratification of it, I understand.

Regarding the third matter, the Whip must deal with it in due course.

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