Disability groups to push for rights-based Bill
The Government is under increasing pressure to guarantee rights based legislation is contained in the controversial Disability Bill, against a backdrop of a hugely successful Special Olympics games.
Today’s meeting, which will be attended by up to 60 TDs, comes as junior minister Willie O’Dea appeared to rule out giving the disabled enforceable rights.
“The problem is you are talking about a huge amount of money in legal fees which could be used to provide services,” a spokesman for the Minister said.
Mr O’Dea suggested a compromise, involving an independent appeals mechanism similar to the Equality Tribunal, could be reached. The tribunal would be headed up by an ombudsman.
However, Donal Toolan of the Forum of People with Disabilities ruled this out, saying the powers of the Equality Authority were too easily eroded.He said the powers of the Ombudsman had also been interfered with by the political process this year.
Angela Kearns, head of the Government-established Disability Legislation Consultation Group said she was confident the Government would come up with a reasonable solution.
“We have to have enforcement measures that underpin the rights of people with disabilities,” she said adding that she would hammer this point home when the group meets the Taoiseach on July 15.
