Disability

The HSE is applying the Disability Act 2005 in a way that undermines rather than upholds disability rights in Ireland, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has told the Court of Appeal. Appearing as amicus curiae in the case of OB, the watchdog said the manner in which the HSE carries out

The denial of domiciliary care allowance (DCA) to the parents of a severely disabled child, who needs continual care, because of the time the child has spent in hospital is discriminatory, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has said. The rights watchdog is appearing as amicus curiae in a

An Oireachtas committee has launched a call for submissions on proposed legislation to abolish the wards of court system for adults. The joint committee on children, equality, disability, integration and youth is seeking views on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2021, which w

The Law Society of Ireland has called on the State to "realise its international obligations to Irish people with disabilities" to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities today. Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in March 2018, some 11 ye

Ireland's controversial wardship system will be ended by June 2022 under plans set out by ministers today. The government has announced that the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will be amended before being commenced in full by June 2022.

Disabled voters can lawfully be required to enter polling places through a back entrance, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled. In a "disappointing" ruling yesterday, the court said polling places and election procedures in Europe need to be accessible for disabled people, but access

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has withdrawn its appeal of a significant High Court judgment which found that the service must provide reasonable accommodation to disabled prison officers. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission provided legal representation to Robert Cunningham in taking the

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will give evidence to the Supreme Court in a case with implications for the application of the equality guarantee in social welfare matters. The case concerns a father who was deemed ineligible for domiciliary care allowance while his severely disabled

The PSNI has launched a review of its procedures for recruiting disabled people after settling a disability discrimination case brought by a man with autism, ADHD and Tourette's syndrome. The man had unsuccessfully applied for an administrative post with the PSNI via a recruitment campaign conducted

Barry Walsh, head of Fieldfisher Ireland's employment department, comments on a recent case involving disability discrimination. Employers are often asked by employees to provide references for future would-be employers or for internal promotion competitions. Many employers are reluctant to do so an

Cork lawyer Dr Sinead Kane has been named as one of 20 finalists in the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (JCI TOYP) programme in recognition of her personal accomplishments. Dr Kane is a keynote speaker, double PhD doctorate, double Guinness World Record holder, lecturer on disability

A man with a learning disability has settled a case alleging disability harassment against retailer B&M for £5,000 without admission of liability with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI). During his 18 months at B&M in a stock-filling role, Harvey Spence sa

Government ministers should make an annual Dáil statement on how Ireland is meeting its human rights obligations for disabled people, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has said. Chief commissioner Sinéad Gibney told the Oireachtas disability matters committee that she is i

Staff at A&L Goodbody in Belfast are marking Deaf Awareness Week with the latest in a six-week course of sign language classes.

A cinema chain has settled a disability discrimination claim brought by a woman who uses a wheelchair with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Leah Batchelor is a user of the CEA card scheme, which allows people who need additional support in public to receive an additional co