Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
759. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, which lapsed with the dissolution of the Thirty-second Dáil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17980/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublished in December 2016, the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill's stated purpose was to address remaining legislative barriers to Ireland's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The opportunity was also taken to progress other miscellaneous amendments to statute law. The Bill amends:
- the Juries Act to accommodate (i) deaf persons who need the services of a sign language interpreter and (ii) persons with mental illness being subject to a functional capacity test
- the Electoral Act to repeal the prohibition on a person of unsound mind from standing for election to the national and European parliament
- the National Disability Act to (i) change the status of NDA staff from public to civil servants, in line with all other bodies in the Justice Vote and (ii) to provide information and advice including statistics to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC)
- the Equal Status Act to elaborate the principle of refusal of “reasonable accommodation” on grounds of cost
- the Disability Act to bring civilian staff of the Garda Síochána within the scope of Part V of that Act which contains measures applicable to the public service including employee quotas
- the IHREC Act to create a statutory basis for IHREC to (i) keep under review the law and practice relating to the protection of persons with disabilities, and (ii) to that end appoint an advisory committee, and (iii) apply to the Court of Appeal to appear as amicus curiae (friend of the court.
The Bill was at Committee Stage when it lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil and Seanad in January 2020.
The Programme for Government commits to progressing legislation that will address matters that the lapsed Disability Miscellaneous Provisions Bill sought to resolve. In this regard, a decision is required as to whether the lapsed Bill should be revisited, or if a new Bill should be drafted. This will be a decision for the new Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration once the transfer of functions has taken place.
