Seanad debates

Tuesday, 6 December 2016

2:30 pm

Photo of John DolanJohn Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last Saturday would not constitute history. It was UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Minister of State with responsibilities for disabilities, Deputy Finian McGrath, said the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will not be ratified by the end of the year. Every party and political entity that took part in the general election was insistent that the convention would be ratified by the end of the year or as quickly as possible. In November of last year, the outgoing Administration committed to having it done by the end of this year. The commitment is in the programme for Government. Last June, the Minister of State, in reply to a Commencement matter I tabled, confirmed that it would be ratified by the end of the year, which would be important to trigger the road to progressive implementation. It is a serious matter for 600,000 people with disabilities, 200,000 carers and their families. I expect the Taoiseach to come to the House as soon as possible to explain what is the position. We are told there are backlogs with regard to legislation.

At the end of 2016, 100 years from a particular event, are those people not valued children in this nation? Surely, ratification should have been undertaken. Priorities continue to slip and change. This is a massive issue and people are losing faith with everybody involved in the political process because priorities continue to slip. I strongly seek ratification on behalf of those people.

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