Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
21. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he has undertaken to ratify the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15777/23]
View answerIreland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018 and our implementation of the Convention is monitored by the UN Committee through the review of periodic state reports. Ireland submitted our first implementation report to the UN Committee in 2021. The UNCRPD Optional Protocol creates important additional mechanisms through which our implementation of the UNCRPD can be monitored and evaluated. That is why I fully support ratification and why it is a clear commitment in the Programme for Government.
The timeline for ratification was originally anticipated to follow the conclusion of Ireland’s first review period before the UN Committee. Due to delays at UN level, Ireland’s appearance before the Committee will now be delayed, and for this reason Minister Rabbitte and I have indicated that we are open to the earlier ratification of the Optional Protocol.
My Department is continuing to scope out the requirements for earlier ratification. This scoping work is necessary due to the long-standing position of the state in relation to honouring international agreements. As a matter of foreign policy, Ireland does not enter into binding international treaties until we are confident that the obligations set out within can be complied with. As such, the ongoing scoping exercise is procedurally necessary.
While I am not yet in a position to give an exact date for ratification, it is a priority for me to ensure that the Optional Protocol is ratified at the earliest possible date. Until ratification, we will continue to fully implement the UNCRPD and look forward to engaging with the UN Committee when a review of Ireland's first State Report is scheduled.
