Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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32. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of Ireland’s performance in accordance to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [13195/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland ratified the UNCRPD in 2018. Advancing the implementation of the UNCRPD is an ongoing priority. Our approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of progressive realisation, each year moving forward on key reforms.

The obligations arising from the Convention will be met over time, with initial priority given to meeting legislative commitments. For example, my Department is responsible for the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 which is an important step towards full implementation of the UNCRPD.

In addition, the UNCRPD requires State parties actively to involve people with disabilities in policy development. In order to progress this aspect of the UNCRPD, my Department has funded the development of a Participation and Consultation Network to build capacity within the disability community so that people with disabilities and their representative organisations can participate fully in policy development. The Network was formed in late 2020. One of the Network’s first tasks has been to bring the voices of people with disabilities into consultations on Ireland’s first State Report to the UN on our progress in implementing the UNCRPD. This Network is an important initiative that will help us to realise both the spirit and the substance of the UNCRPD here in Ireland. It will provide a platform for people with disabilities to become actively involved in issues that affect their lives.

The Programme for Government commits to establishing a UNCRPD Implementation Plan. This Plan will coordinate and monitor progress on implementing the UNCRPD across Government departments. Work on this Plan is at an early stage.

My Department is currently responsible for coordinating the two significant whole of Government strategies that currently exist in the area of Disability, namely the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES). These are the key frameworks for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and support effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the UNCRPD.

The UNCRPD operates in a similar manner to other UN Human Rights treaties. The State is required to prepare a comprehensive report on the implementation of the Convention in Ireland and this will be followed by a public appearance before the CRPD Committee in Geneva.

Ireland is preparing its first State Report. My Department is responsible for preparing the Report, in consultation with other Departments and Agencies who have responsibility for implementing the Convention. The report will set out how Ireland is implementing the Convention. It will describe progress in a number of areas and acknowledge where further action is required for Ireland to comply fully with the Convention.

Ms Anne Rabbitte T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, published the draft State Report in December 2020 and a public consultation process has recently concluded. The Report, incorporating the information obtained during the public consultation process, will then be brought to Government for approval in advance of its formal submission to the Committee by Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva later this year.

Following the submission of the State Report, Ireland will take part in an appearance with the UN Committee. The information gathered at this appearance will inform the Committee's report on how Ireland is implementing the UNCRPD and I would expect their report to include recommendations on areas for improvements. There is no indication at this time on a likely date for that appearance.