Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department, its Offices and the Agencies under its remit, are committed to the success of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy that was launched this year and the implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with Disabilities.

Officials of my Department are members of the Steering Groups overseeing the implementation of both of these Strategies.  A Disability Consultative Committee has recently been put in place in my Department. 

Examples of specific actions which support the delivery of these strategies are:

1. In June, I launched Ireland’s new National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility, ‘Towards Responsible Business’ 2017-2020’.  The Plan aims to encourage businesses to develop strategies to integrate diversity in the workplace, including for people with a disability

2. Ireland has reached agreement at EU-level on the text of a Directive and Regulation that will jointly ratify the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled.  My Department is actively preparing for this transposition, to ensure that it is carried out quickly and effectively.

3. The Employment Equality Acts prohibit discrimination on nine grounds including the ground of disability. Any person who believes that s/he has experienced discrimination which is contrary to the Employment Equality Acts may seek redress by referring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission, which is an Office of my Department.

4. Officials of my Department are currently assisting the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in drafting the Copyright and Related Rights (Miscellaneous Intellectual Property) Bill.  One of the primary intentions of this Bill is to improve access to copyright works for persons with a disability. The Bill will allow an individual to make a personal copy of a work modified to meet their particular needs. Moreover, certain designated bodies will be able to make multiple copies of a work to meet the specific needs of persons with a disability and to share these with other designated bodies as well as directly to individuals with a disability.

5. Enterprise Ireland is actively working with the National Disability Authority in looking at routes to commercialising universal design product ideas for the NDA’s Annual Design Challenge.

6. EI hosted a knowledge sharing event with the National Disability Authority on a range of issues to do with disability with approximately 30 employers.

7. Staff in the Local Enterprise Office (LEOs) recently undertook training on interacting with people from disadvantaged or underrepresented communities, including people with disabilities.

7. In line with other Government Departments, my Department and Offices have in place access officers who provide the assistance necessary to enable our clients and customers with disabilities to effectively access all our services.

8. My Department is committed to complying with the Code of Practice for Appointment of Persons with Disabilities to positions in the Civil Service.  At the end of 2016, 5.2% of our staff were reporting a disability.