Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 2

Written Answers. - Ministerial Meetings.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

Following publication of the Disability Bill, 2001, last December, discussions with interested parties about the Bill continued apace. Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace met a broad range of groups representing people with disabilities, their families and carers. On 5 February she met the National Parents and Siblings Alliance and on 6 February she met the Forum of People with Disabilities.

Her meetings with the groups involved a broad and frank discussion about many aspects of the Bill, including assessment of need and related services, individual rights to equal access and treatment and section 47. She asked all of the groups that she met over the past number of weeks to provide her with detailed proposals for amend ments. The majority of the groups were disposed to forwarding suggestions to her.

Earlier this week the Government agreed to reconsider key areas of concern which have emerged in relation to the Bill since its publication and to engage in further intensive consultations with interested parties. A number of different approaches to these issues have been proposed. The Minister of State will be exploring the exact nature of the new provisions with all concerned. Today she is writing to all of the groups that were consulted during the preparation of the Bill. Meetings are being arranged so that the amendments can be finalised as soon as possible. The National Parents and Siblings Alliance and the Forum of People with Disabilities are among those to whom the invitation to participate in further consultations is being issued.