Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

554. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current situation of the European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882); the nature of the work across Government to ensure effective implementation of this directive; the guidance that is being issued by his Department to organisations and businesses in advance of the enactment of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41364/24]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

555. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the EU Commission has finished its assessment of Statutory Instrument No. 636/2023 - European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023 to transpose the European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) for accuracy and completeness; the timeline for the outcome of that assessment; if the June 2025 deadline for companies to be compliant with this regulation will be extended in light of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41365/24]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an important EU Directive that will introduce, for the first time, mandatory minimum accessibility requirements for certain products and services across the European Union. The Directive covers a range of commonly used products and services that are important for daily life. It seeks a universal design or ‘design for all’ approach to accessibility, which means ensuring access to products and services for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others by design.

The deadline for material implementation of the Directive across all Member States is 28 June 2025. This deadline is set by the Directive itself and as such cannot be extended at national level.

Along with a number of other Member States, Ireland received a reasoned opinion in relation to the European Accessibility Act in July of 2023 while focused efforts were underway in my Department to transpose this complex and broad Directive. Ireland transposed the EAA into Irish law via Statutory Instrument (S.I 636/2023) on 12 December 2023 and notified the European Commission of same. Ireland is currently awaiting a final assessment from the Commission on this transposing instrument, as I understand a number of other Member States also are.

In line with the Government's mainstream first approach to disability matters - which itself flows from the ethos of the UNCRPD - under the transposing Regulations six agencies have been assigned oversight and enforcement functions for products and services based on their existing regulatory responsibilities:

• the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission;
• the Commission for Communications Regulation;
• the National Transport Authority;
• the Irish Aviation Authority;
• the Central Bank of Ireland, and
• Coimisiún na Meán.