Sir, – Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore was yesterday addressing the UN Human Rights Council, the first Irish Minister to do so as a council member.
Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the UN in a letter to the UN General Assembly dated April 13th, 2012 as part of Ireland’s election campaign to become a member of the council committed this State to ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities “as soon as possible”.
While some 128 countries have ratified the convention – the most important human rights treaty so far this century – this State’s promised ratification remains outstanding.
Instead of advancing human rights, the Government’s action in scrapping the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant (Home News, February 27th) amounted to an appalling attack on the rights of people with disabilities. It will result in many being effectively confined to their own homes, unable to participate in the community. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I have just heard Kathleen Lynch, Minister of State (on the radio) trying to justify how the Government is leaving disabled people currently in receipt of the disability allowance without any certainty beyond July.
She displayed a total lack of awareness that the needs of disabled people are to do with consistency and security.
She gets my vote for Gobbledegook Minister of the Week, as she spoke of consultation, ring-fencing, and processes, but failed to address the crucial issue: are people over 66 years deserving of equal treatment as identified by the Ombudman? Yes or No. – Yours, etc,