Ó Caoláin calls for rights-based Disability Bill

The Taoiseach was challenged last week in the Dáil by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin on the continuing delay in the long-promised Disability Bill, which is to ensure the rights and entitlements of people with disabilities. The Sinn Féin TD said the Bill "must be rights-based" and warned the Taoiseach against once again disappointing people with disabilities and their families.

Ó Cáoláin used his Dáil 'Leader's Question' to raise the issue on 4 February, pointing out that the Disabilities Bill in 2001 was totally inadequate and caused not only concern and disappointment, but real anger for people with disabilities, their representative organisations and the wider public.

"Such was the level of protest that the Government was forced to withdraw the Bill and establish a consultation process that included the establishment of the Disability Legislation Consultation Group," he said. "This body, comprising umbrella groups representing the different sectors within the area of disability, published its report, Equal Citizens, in February 2003. The report was a substantial contribution to the preparation of the new Disability Bill. It calls for legislation that enshrines two particular points: positive rights that are enforceable by individuals; and duties and requirements on public and private bodies providing services to the public aimed at removing barriers to full participation of people with disabilities in Irish society.

"It is now 12 months later and we still do not have this legislation."

Ó Caoláin also expressed to Ahern the concerns of disability groups, organisations, and the wider sector that the legislation soon to be introduced falls significantly short of the rights-based legislation required by the disability sector and demanded by wider society.

Ahern replied that it is the government's intention to put in place "a framework that will ensure the most effective combination of legislation, policies, institutions and services to support and reinforce equal access for people with disabilities".

He said they wanted to "share information and listen to what the disability groups have to say. It may not be possible, as always in legislation, to go the whole way, but we will go as far as we possibly can to satisfy their concerns".