Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

83. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a full update on the status of the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6179/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007.

Advancements have been made through delivery of two whole-of-government national strategies - the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) which concluded at the end of 2022 and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES).

Ireland submitted its Initial State Report on the implementation of the UNCRPD to the UN Committee in November 2021, following extensive consultation with persons with disabilities, disabled persons organisations, representative organisations, and families. Ireland is currently awaiting a review date from the UN Committee to evaluate progress made to date.

A new national disability strategy is presently under development, to succeed the NDIS. The new national disability strategy will also satisfy the Programme for Government commitment to develop a plan to coordinate continued implementation of the UNCRPD in Ireland.

My Department is conscious of the need to ensure that, in line with our UNCRPD obligations, the voices of people with disabilities and their representative organisations inform the scope and focus of the strategy. Inclusive strategy development is the key to ensuring that we build on progress achieved to date under the NDIS and CES, so that we can make properly informed decisions to address as a matter of priority the challenges and barriers most significant in the lives of people with disabilities across Ireland today.

All Government departments and agencies are responsible for implementing the UNCRPD, and action will continue in this regard while the new strategy is in development throughout 2023.