Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The convention and the optional protocol cover a broad range of commitments requiring cultural change, such as decongregation, personalised budgets and deprivation of liberty safeguards. The Government is working hard to address all these issues. Those are the reasons.

An analysis of jurisprudence under the optional protocol indicates that 14 complaints have been heard since 2010, with nine upheld. The average time for complaints to be adjudicated is between two and three years, and I accept that point. Cases have included issues we are aware of, including deprivation of liberty, participation of deaf persons in jury duty, accessibility issues, work and employment, reasonable accommodation, medical treatment and prison conditions.

Becoming party to the convention holds us to international account in regard to our commitments to improve services and the lives of persons with disabilities. I am pleased that Ireland has finally submitted to that degree of accountability. I can assure the Senator I will continue to work to ensure that it is maintained and further augmented by the optional protocol following consideration of Ireland's first report.