David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when his Minister of State with responsibility for equality issues last met the disability legislation consultation group; if and when he intends to respond to its letter sent to him in October 2004 detailing the ten key concerns of the consultation group with reference to the Disability Bill 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5058/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when and if he intends to meet the disability legislation consultation group to discuss with it its concerns with reference to the Disability Bill 2004; if he will report on its ten key concerns that were communicated to him; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5055/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 105 together.

My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, with special responsibility for equality in my Department, met the disability legislation consultation group, DLCG, on 27 October last, following publication of the Disability Bill 2004. It later forwarded a written submission on the Bill which included ten key concerns. He wrote to the group on 9 December to confirm that its submission was under examination and that he hoped to meet it again before Committee Stage. The group was advised that copies of the submission had been circulated to other relevant Departments for consideration and that if necessary, the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, would revert to the Cabinet Sub-committee on Social Inclusion. The Minister of State wrote again to the group on 11 January 2005 offering a meeting to update it on progress in relation to its submission. The group replied on 13 January 2005 indicating that the next meeting should be about the Government's comprehensive response to its ten key concerns.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Government referred oversight of preparation of the Disability Bill and other elements of the national disability strategy to the Cabinet Sub-committee on Social Inclusion because of the complex and cross-cutting nature of the issues involved. The Cabinet sub-committee has invested time in making sure that the measures reflect an integrated approach by Government to the range of important policy issues involved and will continue to do so as the various elements of the strategy are put in place.

The process of considering amendments in the context of the Bill is one that requires consultation with relevant Departments and the Attorney General. The process is ongoing. In the meantime, the Bill is still on Second Stage in the House having been debated over a period of several days since early November 2004. Second Stage debate on the principles of the Bill is expected to conclude within the next few weeks. I understand that the Minister of State wrote recently to the DLCG informing it accordingly and indicating that when Government authority for any Committee Stage amendments to the Bill has been obtained, he would be in a better position to discuss the group's ten key issues of concern. He said that he hoped to arrange, as requested, a further meeting with the group in the near future now that Second Stage of the Bill is nearing completion and Committee Stage, which will involve debate on amendments, will follow soon afterwards.