Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a ceist faoi the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016. The Taoiseach knows the UN convention was signed by the State in 2007. More than 174 states out of 193 in the UN have now ratified it, but this State has not ratified it. Yesterday, citizens with disabilities, many in wheelchairs, picketed the Dáil because the Government has failed to honour its commitments to them. The primary purpose of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 is to provide for ratification of the UN Convention.

Sixteen months ago, the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, said it would be ratified within six months. That has not happened. It was referred to the justice committee for debate. That has not happened. As I said previously, this is an issue of rights. When will the Bill be passed? When will the State ratify the UN convention?

Can the Taoiseach inform the Dáil when he expects all the outstanding sections of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, which was passed two years ago, to be fully commenced?

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