Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

-----with days left?

Over the years, we have heard from different experts, including the UN special rapporteur, who have clearly said the optional protocol could be ratified in the morning. Disabled people should not have had to wait this long. They should not have to wait any longer for the ability to vindicate their rights and hold the State accountable for its failures. The Government still has not given us the exact date or an explanation as to why it has been left this late, basically for the next Government to ratify it.

Why are disability services and rights shoved to the bottom of the priority list again and again? It is abundantly clear that despite the rhetoric, the Government as a whole is not interested in actually delivering the services disabled people are entitled to. If the Government put the principles and demands of the UNCRPD at the core of policy, it would lead to greatly improved outcomes for disabled people, their carers and their families. Putting the UNCRPD at the heart of policy is what the Social Democrats pledge to do. This would be achieved by taking a rights-based approach, which recognises the role of disabled persons organisations. We would implement reforms in governance of and accountability for the provision of disability services. We would implement, enact and commence key legislation and strategies to promote and protect the rights, quality of life and independence of disabled people and invest in inclusion to put the disability sector on a sustainable financial footing.

My party is fully committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Too often, a lack of funding and lack of services mean that disabled people and their families are forced to seek charity, campaign and fight for their right just to live a dignified life. Disability services or the inadequacy of them is one of the issues I am contacted about practically daily by people across Cork South-West and beyond. Sadly, we do not have a rights-based approach to disability. We have a budget-based model. Services, supports and opportunities are decided based on Government budgets and not human rights.

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