Review of the Disability Act

Full Transcript: The Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children appeared before the Joint Committee on Autism this morning, as did representatives of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC.

Among the many issues that were raised around the provision of services for autistic people, a recurring theme was the need to revisit the Disability Act 2005. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, recently presented our fifth and sixth periodic reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child at the UN, the response to which issued just last week. In that response, the committee recommends that the State reviews relevant legislation, including the Disability Act, to bring it in line with a human rights-based approach to disability, particularly with regard to the definition of “disability” and with due regard to the needs of Roma and Traveller children. In response to that recommendation, does the Government plan to review the Disability Act 2005? If so, when might such a review happen?

The Taoiseach

The year 2005 is a long time ago and a lot has happened and changed since then, so a review probably is timely, but I have not had a chance to discuss that with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, or the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman. Perhaps the Deputy will allow me to come back to him with more detail when I can.