Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and acknowledge the support she and the Social Democrats are offering in respect of the referendums and changes to our Constitution. She acknowledges and we are making the case that they will represent an important improvement on the current wording in our Constitution and will take an important step towards having a Constitution that is in line with the values and reality of modern Ireland.

On the specific question the Deputy put to me about the signing of the additional and optional protocol, the Taoiseach outlined last week the commitment that he and the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, have to the signing of this protocol during the term of this Government. That means it is important that we continue with our efforts to get ready to sign this very important protocol, which we acknowledge will be important to those with disabilities in our country and to their carers.

On where the process stands at the moment, we had originally planned to progress ratification of the optional protocol after the conclusion of our first progress review in the existing convention. I understand that was not possible because the UN's own cycle of reviews was delayed post Covid. The Government has already indicated, and I wish to do so again here today, an openness to earlier ratification. Work is continuing to get us ready for that point. In August last year, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned external legal counsel to scope out the kind of legal reform and change that is needed to allow for Ireland to sign up to the optional protocol and to look at what domestic remedies and processes need to be in place to allow them to vindicate their rights when this protocol is in place. The Department of children will receive the scoping report on this very shortly and after that the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, intends to bring a memorandum to Government. I mean, by memorandum, a proposal regarding how we can move this forward, outlining the kind of changes that are needed and how we will look to secure all of this and make this change within the timeframe I have already outlined.

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