Disabled rights stance ‘embarrassing’

IRELAND is the embarrassment of Europe due to its failure to affirm its strong commitment to a draft UN Treaty on the rights of the disabled, Labour’s Michael D. Higgins insisted yesterday.

Deputy Higgins was speaking after Minister for Justice Michael McDowell failed to appear before the Dáil sub-committee on Human Rights to explain Ireland’s position on the draft treaty.

“The issues that have to be resolved are quite serious. I find this late announcement by the minister that he is not going to attend to be just simply unacceptable,” said Mr Higgins.