Ireland Ratifies Disabilities Convention

23.03.2018

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified by the Dáil, even as the Irish government pushes for the legalisation of abortion on grounds of disability. Ireland is the last of the 27 European Union states to ratify the convention, which was adopted by the UN in 2006. It protects equal treatment for all people with disabilities with respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms. The next step in the process will involve Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney signing the Instrument of Ratification, which will be sent to UN headquarters in New York. Once it is received by the UN, it will come into force after 30 days.

Fianna Fáil Margaret Murphy O'Connor said that, while her party supported the motion, she warned ratification of the treaty alone would not end discrimination faced by those with disabilities. She said that a shocking number of children with disabilities were waiting for assessment of needs and the numbers overdue an assessment had surged by 28 per cent.

RTÉ. March 7.