Thursday, 25th May 2017


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Councillor Danielle Twomey Calls For Disability Rights To Be Enshrined In Irish Law


by SEAMUS WHELEHAN


The government is com- ing under increasing pres- sure to live up to its agree- ment to legislate for people with disabilities. Cork County Council


has become one of many local authorities to call on the Minister for Disabilities Fininan McGrath to give the country’s 600,000 reg- istered with a disability a stronger voice in society. The move comes follow-


ing the tabling of a motion by Sinn Fein Cllr Danielle Twomey at the May sitting of the authority. After almost a decade signing the UN convention on disabilities, Ireland has yet to endorse it. By adopting the conven-


tion, the government would have to enact laws to im- prove disability rights. The agreement allows for


the disabled to have a right to proper education, health and work among a series of other positive changes. In 2015 the in-


government


troduced a road map which set out


the legisla-


tive changes re- quired, but due to a series of road blocks they failed to meet their own dead- line.


When the then


Minister for Jus- tice Michael Mc- Dowell signed the document on behalf of the Irish government


in 2007 he said it was a “blue print for a significant improvement.” 172 countries including


North Korea have ratified the 192, country agree- ment. Ten years on Midleton


Sinn Fein Cllr Danielle Twomey said it was a “na- tional embarrassment” that people with a disability are still being excluded. She told the May sitting


of Cork County Council by not ratifying the agreement it is “giving the clear mes- sage to people with disabil- ities in Ireland that they are not a priority for the gov- ernment.” Independent Cllr June


Murphy who backed the motion said “people with disabilities have the right to live their life the same way as everyone else. It shows a serious lack of commitment by the government not to make sure this bill takes the priority it deserves.” While Independent Cllr


Marcia Dalton said “this country is very good at pro- moting equality as long as it doesn’t cost any money. If


investment needs to be put in to give services to people who are less able bodied then it needs to be put in, their rights are the same as everybody else’s.” East


Cork campaigner


for people with a disability Liz Maddox said she “failed to see why all parties can’t come together as they did with the marriage equali- ty legislation and push this through.” She said, it would be


a huge boost for Ireland worldwide to be seen to support people with a dis- ability. “I always thought Fine


Gael would be the party to push this trough, they said it would be. We now have a change of leadership, but I’m not sure which one is disability friendly. I would hope they would both unite to get this enacted.” The Castlemartyr family


carers and disability spokes- person said she would also hope disability rights would feature in both Simon Co- veney and Leo Varadkar’s agenda during their leader- ship campaign.”


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