Jan O'Sullivan
Question:173 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding which has been allocated to People with Disabilities in Ireland Limited for 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9298/01]
Written Answers. - Disability Support Services.
Jan O'Sullivan
Question:174 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the new elected board of People with Disabilities in Ireland Limited will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9299/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.
The funding allocated by my Department to People with Disabilities in Ireland Limited, PwDI, for 2001 is £1,000,000. PwDI, formerly the Irish Council of People with Disabilities, was established in March 2000. Elections under the new constitution to most of the network committees around the country took place in late 2000 and early 2001. A few remaining networks have yet to complete their election procedures.
There is provision in the articles of association for a maximum of 30 network committees and each committee, which has at least ten elected members, may appoint one person to the board of PwDI. In addition, the board may co-opt a further two members, bringing the potential board membership to a maximum of 32. An interim board, comprising the seven person steering group, appointed by me in January 1999, and two other nominated members, will remain in place for approximately three months after the appointment of the first elected board of PwDI to facilitate the transition.
It was proposed to hold an induction course for nominees to the new board on 10 March 2001. This course was postponed owing to then current restrictions in relation to foot and mouth disease. A new date for the induction course has been set for 7 April 2001 in view of revised instructions issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
The intention is that within one month of the induction course, the board nominees will be invited to a meeting at which the subscribers to the Memorandum of Association, in this instance the members of the steering group, will formally appoint them to the board, in accordance with paragraph 54 of the memorandum and articles of association of PwDI.
The groundwork has been laid in developing this democratic process for people with disabilities. I look forward to the imminent completion of the process and to the emergence of a vibrant and active representational forum.
On another disability issue raised recently in parliamentary questions, I would like to take this opportunity of clarifying what the position is with regard to a possible constitutional amendment in the area of disability equality.
As you know, both the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy M. Wallace, and I outlined that there was a recommendation by the Constitutional Review Group for an amendment to Article 40.1 of the Constitution to provide for equality and non-discrimination. The group recommended the following wording in regard to discrimination.
No person shall be unfairly discriminated against, directly or indirectly, on any ground such as sex, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, colour, language, culture, religion, political or other opinion, national, social or ethnic origin, membership of the travelling community, property, birth or other status.
The part of the reply to the parliamentary questions which related to a proposal for this amendment to be put before the electorate was based on the understanding held by my Department about the working approach being adopted by the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution. However, it is now understood that the All-Party Oireachtas Committee proposes to complete its work on the institutions of State and then deal with the area of fundamental rights. The equality amendment will be considered in the context of the latter tranche of proposals. I hope this clarification is of assistance to the Deputy.