I thank the Ceann Comhairle. As we speak, people protest at the gates calling on the Government to ratify and implement the optional protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD. The Government signed the convention five years ago but despite commitments made, it has still not ratified the optional protocol. This protocol is crucial for people with disabilities to vindicate their rights as full and equal citizens and to hold the State to account when they are denied the services and supports they need and to seek redress when they are failed. Far too often, people with disabilities, their families and, indeed, their carers must fight the State for everything and it should not be that way. People should not have to stand with placards on Kildare Street. Can the Taoiseach tell our citizens with disabilities when his Government will at last honour its commitment and ratify the optional protocol?

I thank Deputy McDonald. The Government agrees with the importance of ratifying the optional protocol and it is set out in the programme for Government. An important step towards achieving that was the passage earlier this year of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022. That Act will be enacted later this month and the various processes that flow from that enactment will then be put in place, particularly the full operation of the Decision Support Service. The Office of the Attorney General is currently reviewing legislation to see if there are other areas where we need to get domestic legislation in compliance with the UNCRPD. Once that assessment has been undertaken, we will be in a better position to be able to advise the House as to when exactly we can get full ratification of the optional protocol.