Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is about autonomy and independence. Yesterday was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The full implementation of the UN convention, and the essential optional protocol that must follow it, would allow disabled people to have freedom, choice and control over all aspects of their lives. It would allow them to participate fully and as equals in an inclusive society. This act of empowerment will require resourcing, primarily through personal budgets, and the employment of personal assistants directly by disabled people to allow them to carry out tasks that their disabilities will not allow them to do independently. This year has been a significant one for disability rights. We need to make 2019 the year of delivery and implementation. Mr. James Cawley and Ms Shelly Gaynor of Independent Living Movement Ireland made a presentation in the Oireachtas audiovisual room this lunchtime. All of the members of the movement deserve the delivery of their rights and of equality, as does everyone represented by Inclusion Ireland, the Disability Federation of Ireland and Rehab Ireland. Representatives of those organisations were also in attendance at today's event. I urge the Government to make speedy progress with the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 and to ratify the optional protocol.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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I will focus on education. When can we expect the right to education to finally become a universal right for all children, including children with additional needs and children on the autism spectrum? We know there are long waiting lists for diagnosis. This means children are being left behind. Obviously, this has a major impact on their education. I would like to mention a particular case in Thomastown, which is in my constituency, as a living example of what we are talking about. A young girl who has been diagnosed with autism is being treated extremely badly by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. She was supposed to start primary school in September 2018, but due to her diagnosis and the non-availability of school places, she will be unable to do so until September 2019. The Department has said that she is not entitled to any more years under the early childhood care and education scheme because the two years to which she is entitled under the scheme have elapsed. I understand it is possible for over-age exemptions to be made under the scheme, but the Department seems to believe she does not qualify. This means she is being as a second-class citizen. Why is her right to education being affected simply because she has autism?

I will send the details of the case to the Minister of State and ask him to deal with it.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Ireland signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, in March 2007. In March 2018, following many years of tireless work by campaign groups, disability advocates and wider civic society, the Government ratified the convention, the purpose of which is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect of their inherent dignity. At the core of the convention is the realisation of rights that have long been denied to people with disabilities. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is at a standstill. The failure to ratify the optional protocol is yet another setback. The protocol has to be progressed. On 9 November 2017 Deputy McDonald and I introduced the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2017, which will promote and ensure the rights of people subject to the Mental Health Act. We need to move forward in order that Irish citizens will never be denied their rights, dignity and the capacity to make choices for themselves. We need a new mental health Act that will meets the standards of the UNCRPD.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach as ucht an ábhair seo a phlé. Today, at a briefing organised by Teachta Ó Caoláin, Shelly Gaynor and James Cawley from Independent Living Movement Ireland, Sarah Lennon from Inclusion Ireland, Cathy Moore from Rehab Ireland, Allen Dunne from the Disability Federation of Ireland and Joan Carthy from the Irish Wheelchair Association told us that, without adequate services, citizens living with disabilities were like prisoners. In County Louth I work with many groups and individuals who advocate for services for people with disabilities such as Parents and Friends of the Intellectually Disabled, the Louth respite group, WALK PEER and others, all of which I commend. They have fought a battle a day with successive Governments over the lack of funding, planning and resources, which is contrary to the UN convention. It took 11 years for the Government to ratify it, which was not good enough.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the increase in the medical card earnings disregard for persons in receipt of disability allowance. It will benefit employees with disabilities but not business owners with disabilities. I have been contacted by a business owner in receipt of partial capacity benefit who will see absolutely no benefit as a result of the changes announced. Changes in medical card assessment should be totally inclusive of all persons with a disability, whether they are an employee or an employer. It is time we made rights real for all.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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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.

Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputies for their succinctness and for sticking to the times.