Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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207. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of protocols attached to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; if each of the protocols has been ratified by Ireland; the implementation date of each of the protocols and the convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29132/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I can inform the Deputy that there is one Optional Protocol attached to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Optional Protocol establishes two procedures to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. The first allows individuals to bring petitions to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities claiming breaches of their rights; the second is an inquiry procedure giving the Committee authority to undertake inquiries of grave or systematic violations of the Convention.

The Convention and the Optional Protocol cover a broad range of commitments some of which require substantive cultural change such as de-congregation, personalised budgets and deprivation of liberty.

The Optional Protocol is not being ratified at this time but will be ratified as soon as possible, at the latest following completion of Ireland's first reporting cycle which will identify any actions needed with regard to compliance with the Convention.