John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the Minister of State. I am particularly pleased that for the first time we have a Minister of State at the Cabinet table looking at the issue of inclusion for people with disabilities, which is a whole-of-government issue. It is a unique role and, in a sense, the Minister of State has in some way become the conscience of the Cabinet on this issue to ensure effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is the linchpin. Ireland signed the convention in March 2007, which means that we have had almost ten years to prepare for its ratification and introduce the legislative measures required. At the recent European disability forum conference the Minister of State stated - it has been said over and over - that Ireland's approach had always been not to ratify international treaties until it was ready to implement them. My simple and logical response, therefore, is that once the convention is ratified, everything has to move and all the buttons must be green. However, the legislation still needs to be put in place. The other practical measures to be included in the upcoming budget and resources also need to be put in place.

I present the Minister of State with an opportunity to confirm that work is under way in Departments and public services to ensure implementation, that ratification will take place before the end of 2016 and that budget 2017 will include resources to progress implementation. On the legislative side, I mentioned the roadmap, which has been published. In conjunction with that, however, practical measures must now be put in place with regard to the upcoming budget. There is a raft of such measures in terms of health, housing, personal assistants, the cost of disability services, transport and many more.

People with disabilities can characterise the recession years in two key ways. First, there were repeated commitments that their services and supports would be protected and prioritised. Second, as time went on, there was a gross understatement or under-acknowledgement of the depth and scope of the cuts that continue to impact upon people with disabilities and their families in terms of participation in everyday life in this country. If a credible start is not made at this stage, people with disabilities can well draw the conclusion that they were hoodwinked during the past decade. The Oireachtas has not kept faith with them. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, UNCRPD, is simply a methodology to give effect to the emancipation of 600,000 people.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Ireland can implement the convention well in the time ahead. We have the resolve, ambition and confidence to do so. It will be the right and proper thing to do for people with disabilities and, equally, for the economic, moral and social development of our country.