Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the action he must take for ratification of this Convention to proceed; if an inter-departmental committee has been established; and the timeline for implementation. [25096/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is the Government's intention to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary requirements under the Convention are being met.

An inter-Departmental Committee was established in 2007 by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to advise on and monitor the legislative and administrative 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.

The Disability Act 2005, underpinned by the National Disability Strategy, meets a considerable portion of the Convention's requirements. However, the Mental Capacity Bill, which is in the course of being drafted by Parliamentary Counsel, forms an important part, in so far as the Department is concerned, of what is required to ratify the Convention.

Work on what is involved by way of implementation of the various other provisions in the Convention, which are extensive, continues in the relevant Departments.