Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Many people have asked this question. I have set the end of this year - Christmas 2016 - as a clear target. Of course there are delays with legislation in the Department of Health. The issues are more bureaucratic than anything else. Over the past six months, I have consulted all groups working in the disability sector. I will continue to do this. I have just come from a meeting in my office with a group of parents of disabled children. I have met more than 3,000 people - parents, disabled people and service providers - over the past six months. They have made their views on many of the services and on the UN convention very clear to me. The background to this is that Ireland signed the convention in 2007 with the intention of being able to ratify it subsequently. Many people have asked why this has taken so long.

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