Patrick Costello
Question:95. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when Ireland will ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [16753/22]
View answerWednesday, 30 March 2022
Questions (95)
Written answers
Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007.
Ireland's approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of progressive realisation - each year moving forward on key reforms, with the obligations arising from the Convention being met over time. Initial priority has been given to meeting legislative commitments and requirements.
Ratification of the Optional Protocol following the state's review before the UN Committee is a commitment in the Programme for Government. As we now expect Ireland's review before the Committee to occur later than planned, both I and Minister Roderic O'Gorman T.D. have stated that we are open to earlier ratification of the Protocol, provided the state is in a position to meet the obligations therein.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is in the process of examining the requirements for ratification of the Optional Protocol and we know, for example, that we will require the passage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill before ratification. As the Protocol chiefly concerns redress mechanisms, the review process will encompass a robust review of present redress mechanisms for breaches of rights under the UNCRPD. If any further action is required this will identified and pursued.