Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There was some mirth when the Minister of State announced that the date for Committee Stage of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 had been set for 19 December. As I set that date, the Minister of State is a little late, but I welcome him on board. We will ensure Committee Stage is completed. It is critical that Minister of State ensure Report and Final Stage will be scheduled as is humanly possible following the resumption of the Dáil in January. No dilly-dallying in taking those Stages on the floor of the Dáil will be acceptable. This is very important and I hope the Minister of State will afford himself the opportunity, in responding to me at the conclusion of the debate, to confirm that is exactly his intention.

On the decision support service, it is absolutely unacceptable that we are looking at a situation where the main or critical elements of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act will be commenced in 2020. That is not what we were told previously. When officials from the Department of Justice and Equality appeared before the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality just over a year ago to discuss the legislation, we were told, to our shock and horror, that they would be commenced in 2019. Now we are looking at their being commenced in 2020, not in the coming year, which is absolutely shameful. Whatever the reasons for this protracted and further delay, the Minister of State is in the position to make sure it will continue no longer. I ask that he take on board the very important need to move on the promise made in respect of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act to ensure the decision support service will be fully up and running.

The Minister of State made no mention of the optional protocol. When he appeared before the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality 12 months ago this month, he indicated that the UNCRPD and the optional protocol would be ratified in tandem on the same day, but that has not happened. He has since appeared before the committee again when we addressed this issue. I ask him to match his words with deeds.

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