Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans regarding the introduction of legislation to enhance and enforce the rights of persons with autism. [8937/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has comprehensive legal protection against discrimination on the ground of disability. Persons with disabilities, including persons with autism, are protected from discrimination and afforded reasonable accommodation in access to goods and services and in the field of employment, under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2008 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2008, respectively. In enforcing their right to non-discrimination, people with disabilities and their carers may seek advice from the Equality Authority. If they feel they have been discriminated against contrary to law, they may make a complaint to the Equality Tribunal. I might also mention that it is the Government's intention to ratify the United Nations 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.