Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I would make a comparison with the work completed in recent weeks on the optional protocol to the disability convention. It was an optional protocol to the treaty we had signed. Ratification had been blocked by the fact that some key legislation had not been passed. We passed the assisted decision-making legislation, which was important. I brought together an interdepartmental group in March and in Cabinet three weeks ago we announced that the optional protocol had been signed. We might discuss that in more detail later today.

I will go back to my officials and get an understanding. I suggest we could seek that a similar approach be taken in terms of an interdepartmental group. I will be honest. Given where we are in the lifetime of this Government, I am not sure if this can be established within what is quite a short timeframe. I can take the preliminary steps to ensure there is work done and whoever comes into this Department next has something ready to go rather than having to start something from scratch. If the Deputy is happy, I will progress on that basis.

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