The purpose of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
It is intended that the final legislative amendments needed to enable Ireland to comply with the Convention will be contained in the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 sponsored by the Minister for Justice and Equality and in a stand-alone Bill on deprivation of liberty.
The Department of Health is continuing to progress draft legislation to provide legislative clarity on the issue of deprivation of liberty which will add a new Part to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. These provisions will have resource implications for the health services which will be quantified as proposals are being refined.
The question of additional health service resources to meet any other requirements that may arise under the Convention will be considered in due course.