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Disability Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Questions (1247)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

1247. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for Ireland’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19976/21]

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Written answers

Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in March 2018. Advancing the implementation of the UN Convention is a priority and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. The obligations arising from the Convention will be met over time, with initial priority given to meeting legislative commitments.

The Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty that establishes two procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. The first is an individual communications procedure allowing individuals to bring petitions to the Committee claiming breaches of their rights; the second is an inquiry procedure giving the Committee authority to undertake inquiries of grave or systematic violations of the Convention.

The Programme for Government reiterates the commitment to ratify the Optional Protocol after the first reporting cycle.

Ireland’s Initial State Report under the UNCRPD is currently being finalised by my Department following the conclusion of a public consultation process earlier this month. Following submission of the Report this year, Ireland will wait to be called to appear before the committee. Following that process and the subsequent comments issued by the Committee, the first reporting cycle will conclude, at which point work will be undertaken on the ratification process.

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