Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:200 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to introduce a constitutional amendment on disability. [16627/98]
Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:204 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a new disability Bill will be introduced; and progress, if any, to date in this regard. [16631/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 204 together.
A broad range of legislation which impacts on disability is at present being undertaken by my Department.
The Employment Equality Act, 1998, was recently passed by the Oireachtas and has been signed into law. This legislation will give people with disabilities the protection of the law for the first time in relation to access to employment and advancement within employment. It is hoped it will contribute to a reduction in the unacceptably high rates of unemployment of people with disabilities generally and build an awareness of the prevalence of discrimination on grounds of disability in the workplace.
It is my intention, with Government approval, to have an Equal Status Bill published later this year. This Bill will outlaw discrimination on similar grounds as with the Employment Equality Act but outside of the workplace.
The report of the establishment group, tasked inter alia with the preparation of detailed proposals for setting up a national disability authority and a disability support service is now to hand and will be submitted to Government soon for approval. Following on this, I propose to bring a national disability authority establishment Bill before the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. The NDA is expected to play a critical role in the development and monitoring of services provided to people with disabilities.
It is in the context of this programme of legislative, institutional and services provision improvements for people with disabilities that I intend to consider the form which a disability Bill might take and whether it will be appropriate to bring forward proposals for a disability equality amendment to the constitution in preparation for a disability Bill.