An expert consultation team was established by Government in April 2002 to oversee the consultation process in connection with the preparation of disability legislation. The team comprised Ms Sylda Langford, assistant secretary in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Mr. John O' Donnell, Senior Counsel; Professor Brian Nolan, Economic and Social Research Institute; Mr. Bernard Feeney, senior consultant, Goodbody's Economic Consultants; and Mr. Brian Crowley, MEP. In addition, a group representative of people with disabilities, their families, carers and service providers — the Disability Legislation Consultation Group, DLCG — was brought together by the National Disability Authority, NDA, to facilitate dialogue at national level, both within the sector and with the consultation team.
The consultation team had 15 meetings during which it received the views of key stakeholders, including the DLCG, the social partners, the community and voluntary sector, relevant State agencies and Departments.
The consultation team helped identify key proposals for possible inclusion in future legislation in light of their consultations with stakeholders. In this way, the work of the consultation team fed into the deliberative process until the team completed its task in February 2003. From then on, the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion played a key role in the development of legislative proposals and in facilitating cross-departmental co-operation. It is not the practice to publish advice, minutes or reports arising from such meetings.
