David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she must take for ratification of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2469/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The primary responsibility of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with respect to actions that are required by that Department to enable ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concern the provisions relating to the rights of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others.

So far as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is concerned, the measures to enable compliance with such priorities of the convention are being advanced in the context of the implementation of the Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act, 2005. In addition, I am advised that all labour and trade union law on the Statute Book in Ireland applies to employees with a disability in the same way as it applies to other employees.

Under the Programme for Government "A Blueprint for Ireland's Future 2007-2012" the Department is committed to putting in place a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities to help them to work in all sectors. This strategy is a key component of the Sectoral Plan for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

An outline of how a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities will be implemented has been developed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and has received a positive response from key stakeholders who are represented on the Consultative Forum on an Employment Strategy that has been established under the Department's Sectoral Plan. The aim of this strategy is to address the diversity of circumstances, needs and abilities of people with disabilities, and to work towards the highest possible levels of employment for them. It is intended that the outline for the implementation of this strategy will be completed in the near future.