Government urged to pursue concrete reform after ratifying UN disability convention

The Dáil voted earlier this week in favour of ratifying the convention, which Ireland signed in 2007.

Liam Herrick, director of the ICCL, said: “The government needs to show its commitment to the rights of people with disabilities in real terms, through the enactment of legislation and provision of resources in ways that meet the requirements of the Convention.

“Ratification of the CRPD is a symbolic step, but in reality Ireland’s treatment of people with disabilities has a long way to go.”

He said the State had failed to commence important legislation that would “protect and fulfil” the human rights of disabled people, including parts of the Citizens Information Act 2007, the Disability Act 2005 and the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

Mr Herrick (pictured) said: “The CRPD requires that people with disabilities are given the same respect as everyone else, in terms of the decisions they make and their entitlement to live independently and be fully included in the community.

“There is an urgent need for the government to enact legislation to give a statutory right to individualised support services. There is also an urgent need for a statutory right to home care for older people, who are routinely forced into nursing homes when they need care rather than being supported to live in the community.”

He added: “We are also extremely disappointed to note that there has been no mention of ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Treaty, which allows people to take cases under the CRPD, and we would call for reconsideration of this position during the ratification process.”