Disability Matters Committee to discuss how to provide an independent and adequate standard of social protection for people with disabilities with the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys

Officials from the Department of Social Protection, Rónán Hession, Assistant Secretary, Veronica O’Brien, Principal Officer, Brian Molloy, Principal Officer, Sharon Keane, Assistant Principal and Paul Hill, Assistant Principal will also attend the meeting.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael Moynihan said: “Article 28 of the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) requires States Parties to recognise the right of people with disabilities to social protection and to the enjoyment of that right without discrimination on the basis of disability and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realisation of this right.”

“The Committee has highlighted the need for the social protection system to align with the UNCRPD and a rights based model. This in is contrast to the currents social protection system in Ireland which uses a welfare state model that rations services through waiting lists. Transitioning to a rights-based approach would mean that services are not rationed through the use of waiting lists, but rather through the needs-assessment process.”

“The pandemic has shown how transformative changes to the social protection system can be allocated and made more accessible to people with disabilities. We look forward to discussing these and other related matters with the Minister.”

Watch the Committee live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.