Department of Justice defends delays over UN disability convention

The ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities remains “a very high priority” for the Government, Minister Finian McGrath has said.

Mr McGrath, the minister of state for disabilities, reaffirmed the Government’s committee on the tenth anniversary of Ireland’s signature.

Ireland signed the convention in 2007, but has yet to ratify it. In August last year, Mr McGrath said he wanted the convention “ratified by Christmas” and that further delays could not be justified.

Speaking yesterday, Mr McGrath said: “I am aware of the frustration of people, especially those with a disability, at what appears to them to be an unnecessary delay in ratifying the Convention.

“But I want to re-assure everyone that the ratification of the Convention remains a very high priority for me and the Government”.

The Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said last December would “overcome the remaining legislative barriers to Ireland’s ratification of the Convention”, is currently at committee stage in the Dáil.

Mr McGrath said: “The key remaining barriers to ratification are currently being worked on by the relevant Government departments or are making their way through the Oireachtas.

“Of course I am determined that the Convention will be ratified at an early date but only when we are legislatively in a position to guarantee compliance. I remain of the view that the Convention will be the template for the rights of people with disabilities for generations to come but it is incumbent upon me as Minister and others in the Oireachtas to get it done properly.”

Mc McGrath also said the delay in ratifying the Convention is not impeding other initiatives in the disability sector.

He said: “Since I had the great honour of being appointed Minister around ten months ago I have overseen or collaborated with colleagues in Cabinet on a wide range of programmes and strategies that are aimed at transforming the lives of people with disabilities.

“I have demonstrated my commitment to the progression of the rights of people with a disability whom I have such a respect for and affinity to throughout my career and I am confident that they know that I have their interests at heart in everything I do.”