Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 295: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46128/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has asked for my views on the issue of employment rights for people with learning disabilities and the current exam testing process employed by the Civil Service Commission. I understand that the majority of the issues raised in the correspondence referred to have already been addressed by my colleague, the Minister for Finance. Accordingly, I will address the area for which I have responsibility, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It is the Government's intention to ratify the UN Convention as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary requirements under the Convention are being met. Ireland was in the first group of countries to sign, subject to ratification, the Convention when it opened for signature on 30 March 2007. An Inter-Departmental Committee has been established by my Department to advise on and monitor the actions required to enable the State to ratify the Convention. The Committee has developed a work programme that is being actively addressed by Government Departments. I might add that the Disability Act 2005, underpinned by the National Disability Strategy, meets a considerable portion of the Convention's requirements.