It is likely that the Government will support the proposed UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, according to the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Mr Willie O'Dea.
This follows concerns expressed by the National Disability Authority and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Mr O'Dea conveyed this message to the National Disability Authority yesterday. The NDA had written to the Government expressing its concern that the Department of Justice appeared to be blocking a common EU position in support of the proposed convention.
The NDA had also written to Mr Tom Kitt, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for human rights, about its concerns. He wrote last week to the Minister for Justice, expressing his concerns on the matter and also conveying the concerns of the Mexican ambassador and those of the former US ambassador and champion of disability rights, Ms Jean Kennedy Smith.
Ireland's attitude to the proposed new convention is now to be discussed at next week's Cabinet meeting. However, Mr O'Dea told The Irish Times yesterday that he was very optimistic that the Government would decide to support it.
Ms Angela Kerins, chairwoman of the NDA, welcomed Mr O'Dea's comments to its meeting yesterday, when he reassured it about the likely attitude of the Government.