Dan Neville
Question:72 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's position with regard to the support for the proposed UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities. [11161/03]
Written Answers. - International Agreements.
The first meeting of the UN ad hoc committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention on protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities was held in New York from 29 July to 9 August 2002. The next meeting of the committee will be held from 16 to 27 June next in New York. Ireland believes that the guiding principle of any new legally binding international instrument in the area of disability should be to ensure that persons with disabilities can better enjoy their human rights. We consider that a new legally binding instrument should facilitate the implementation of existing rights in the specific situations faced by persons with disabilities.
In response to a request from UN Secretary General Annan to all UN member states for views on proposals for inclusion in his report to the ad hoc committee, Ireland along with our EU partners have submitted a paper setting out a common EU position. Ireland, along with its EU partners, will aim to ensure that the processes and outcomes of thead hoc committee meet this principle. In advance of its next meeting, Ireland will work with our EU partners in an effort to reach a common position in regard to the work of the ad hoc committee.