David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the responsibility of his Department to oversee the progress in ratification of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the members of the inter-departmental committee established to do same; the details of their work programme; the number of times they have met since their establishment in 2007; the progress they have made regarding ratification; if they have sought reports from each Department regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9866/10]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 206 and 207 of 4 February 2010, if he will outline the impediments that are preventing the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in this jurisdiction which was signed in March 2007 and also the impediments to signing the Optional Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9867/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.

I have already indicated in response to Questions that the Inter-Departmental Committee on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities under the chairmanship of my Department comprises representatives of the Departments of Arts, Sport and Tourism; Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Defence; Health and Children; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Education and Science; Transport; Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Social and Family Affairs; Foreign Affairs and the Office of Public Works. The full Committee has met on five occasions and its purpose is to monitor the legislative and administrative actions required to enable the State to ratify the Convention.

It remains the case that a requirement of my Department in relation to the Convention is to bring forward the Mental Capacity Bill, and, as indicated in the Government Legislation Programme it is intended that the Bill will be published in this Session. The passage of the Bill will add substantially to the overall progress on implementation of the requirements under the Convention. Other various requirements under the Convention are the responsibility of a number of other Departments. The decision by the Government on whether or not to be a party to the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention does not arise at present pending the making of arrangements for the ratification of the Convention.