Ministers to be asked about disability rights

The Ministers for Justice and Finance are to be called before an Oireachtas committee to be questioned about reports that the…

The Ministers for Justice and Finance are to be called before an Oireachtas committee to be questioned about reports that the Government is opposing a UN Convention on Disability Rights.

The suggestion that Ireland has withdrawn its backing for an EU common position to support the convention was greeted with dismay yesterday at an Oireachtas sub-committee on human rights.

There was even a warning yesterday that if Ireland did oppose the treaty it could hasten the collapse of the entire process as it would be the only member-state against it.

Senators and TDs unanimously decided that the two Ministers, Mr McDowell and Mr McCreevy, should be called before the next full meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs to clarify the position

READ MORE

They decided the Ministers should attend the May committee hearing ahead of an ad hoc council meeting in New York in June where proposals would be considered for the international convention on the dignity and rights of disabled people.

Making a submission yesterday Prof Gerard Quinn, UCG, warned: "Ireland's recently reported opposition to the treaty within the powerful EU bloc could yet hasten the collapse of the entire process."

He asked the sub-committee to recommend to the Government that it should allow a positive EU common position to be adopted.

It was highly desirable that the EU presented as a bloc as the US would then support it.

"I earnestly hope that this is a minor glitch on the radar screen," he said. Mr Stefan Trömel, of the European Disability Forum, said that in April the EDF organised a meeting in Madrid in order to increase knowledge and awareness on this issue among disability organisations throughout Europe.

"Coinciding with this meeting, the participants at the meeting were made aware of the article published in The Irish Times on the position of the Irish Government on this issue," he said.

The news was received with surprise and concern and led to a unanimous decision to send a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs to request an urgent change in this position, he said. Sub-committee chairman, Senator Paul Bradford (FG) asked Prof Quinn how he was saying the Government's attitude had changed.

Prof Quinn said that after The Irish Times report there was dismay in the EU at the position of Ireland.

Fine Gael TD, Mr Jim O'Keefee said: "I'm shocked and alarmed to hear that a decision taken in our name at a meeting could lead to the collapse of the whole process."

Labour TD, Mr Michael D. Higgins said the function of the sub-committee was to ensure some accountability.

They needed to know what position Ireland was taking at the June meeting.

"Will the Department of Foreign Affairs be telling the EU and the council that they are very sorry but, because they are governed by the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Finance, that we should not extend any rights that have resource implications?" he asked.

Fianna Fail Senator, Mr Terry Leyden, said Ireland had shown leadership in the UN and he would regard the Government as being at the forefront.