Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No.478 of 16 October 2012, if he will provide the timeframe for ratification of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. [47621/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As I explained to the Deputy on 16th October, one of the key requirements with regard to the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is the enactment of capacity legislation. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a Bill that is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting. Work is ongoing to properly align the provisions of the Bill with the principles contained in the UN Convention on supporting people with impaired capacity in making decisions and exercising their basic rights. I envisage that the title of the Bill will reflect this approach.

In addition, an Inter-Departmental Committee on the UNCRPD monitors the remaining legislative and administrative actions required to enable ratification. At the Committee's request, the National Disability Authority, the lead statutory agency for the sector, are in the process of assisting the Committee to assess the remaining requirements for ratification so as to ensure conclusively that all such issues will be addressed.

I can assure the Deputy that the UNCRPD will be ratified as quickly as possible once all the necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention have been met.