The newly appointed national board of People with Disabilities in Ireland Ltd (PwDI) had its first official meeting this morning.
This new organisation will represent people with disabilities, parents, carers and advocates. The 23-member board is made up of nominees from each of the county networks spread throughout the country and will serve a four-year term.
PwDI chief executive Mr Michael Ringrose hopes the organisation will "be seen as the authentic voice of people with disabilities and will articulate their needs and concerns and input those needs into the form of policy."
He said the PwDI intends to "take the concept of rights out of international theory and to engage at local and national level to ensure that it translates into practicalities of daily life".
Mr Ringrose went on to say that among the priorities of PwDI would be ensuring that there is a real human rights approach to disability in Ireland. "The pace of change must accelerate. 2003 presents an excellent target point for change, being the UN year of the Disabled and also the year in which Ireland will host the Special Olympics."
Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Ms Mary Wallace said work is under way on a Disabilities Bill expected to be published this year.
She encouraged the PwDI board to make itself heard during the drafting procedure. She also said that important developments have taken place since 1997 in relation to equality for people with disabilities.