Give legal basis to UN Treaty

Labour spokesperson on Disability and representative in Cork North Central, Kathleen Lynch, has called for the Government to swiftly progress the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to give full legal effect to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was ratified in the Dáil last night.

Ms. Lynch said:

“I welcome the Dáil’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Ireland first signed up to over ten years ago.

“This has been a long process peppered with delays that has understandably frustrated those who have campaigned tirelessly for the rights of people with disabilities for some time.

“However we are not there yet.

“The Disabilities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill passed second stage in February 2017 and has been at committee stage ever since.

“It has always been Ireland’s position that we ratify UN conventions when the legal requirements are passed.

“I understand that the process can be complex.

“As Minister for Disabilities in the last Government I was proud to help guide the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 through the Dáil in 2015, which was seen a major hurdle on the road to ratification.

“However, to ensure that the ratification of this hugely important UN treaty has a legal basis, the Government needs to quickly progress the Disability Miscellaneous Provisions Bill through the remaining stages in the Oireachtas without further delay.

“We owe it to our citizens with disabilities to make sure that every legal issue is ironed out so that ratifying the Convention will not be simply a notional gesture.”