Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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218. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to participate in a United Nations election to fill vacancies on the disability committee (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40980/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs is fully committed to addressing the needs and rights of people living with disabilities. This commitment is reflected in actions across our development cooperation programme, as well as in our broader engagement with the EU, UN and other international bodies.

Ireland formally ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in March 2018. The Convention seeks to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is composed of 18 members and elections are held by secret ballot every two years to appoint nine members for a four year term.

I have previously confirmed that Ireland’s vote will take particular account of the following criteria: the need to achieve an improved gender balance; the need for equitable representation from the various geographic regions, including low and middle income countries; and, finally, the need to ensure that the Committee includes members who bring expertise and preferably their own “living experience” across diverse areas of disability.

I am particularly pleased to note that five of the eight candidates elected on 30 November 2020 are women and also to note strong representation from low and middle income countries, with the successful candidates nominated by New Zealand, Israel, Morocco, Guatemala, Panama, Kenya, Mongolia and Jamaica, and one seat still remaining to be filled in the final round of voting.

In conclusion, let me assure the Deputy that my Department will continue its efforts to promote and protect the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities.