Disability equality Bill
Deputy Boyd Barrett asked when the disability equality Bill would be introduced to enable ratification of the UN disability convention. The Tánaiste said outstanding issues between Departments were being urgently worked through and hoped they would be resolved within days.
I am sorry. In that case, I will raise another matter.
The disability equality (miscellaneous provisions) Bill involves the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is on the legislative programme and is listed in the programme for Government. The Tánaiste can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that she suggested that the Bill would be in the House before Christmas. However, I see no sign of it on next week's schedule. I do not know how it can be started before Christmas. What is happening and how soon can it begin?
Comment on this
I share the Deputy's opinion that it is important legislation that will enable us to ratify the UN convention. We are working urgently on a small number of outstanding issues that involve a number of Departments, primarily the Department of Health. It is necessary to set up an agency to deal with the new capacity legislation. There is an agreement that the agency will be under the Department of Health. That Department is addressing issues with the Office of the Attorney General and my Department. I hope that they can be resolved in the coming days and that we will be in a position to publish the legislation before Christmas. Of course, it then depends on whether there is time to debate it in the House. Reaching it as soon as possible is a priority. Detailed work is under way. We are trying to finalise difficult legislative issues, but they are receiving urgent attention.