David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the legislative, administrative and other measures that need to be put in place to enable the State to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28744/10]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has now assumed the chairmanship of the inter-departmental committee on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the number of times this group has met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28745/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 29 together.

It is the Government's intention to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are being met.

The National Disability Strategy in many respects comprehends many of the provisions of the UNCRPD. In addition, the Inter-Departmental Committee on the UNCRPD monitors the legislative and administrative actions required to enable the State to ratify the Convention. The Committee has developed a programme on which work is progressing, to address the matters that need to be aligned with the UNCRPD. One such requirement is to bring forward the Mental Capacity Bill, which is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Law Reform. As indicated in the Government Legislation Programme, it is intended that the Bill will be published in this parliamentary session. The passage of the Bill will add substantially to the overall progress on implementation of the requirements under the Convention.

The Inter-Departmental Committee, which is chaired by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs since 1st June, has met on six occasions to date and its next meeting is scheduled for the Autumn.