Disability laws will not be lawyer-driven, says Ahern

THE new disability rights laws will not be lawyer-driven, the Taoiseach said yesterday. Agreeing that people with disabilities and their families are fed up going to the courts, Bertie Ahern said this issue was at the centre of the Government’s approach to the Disability Bill.

“Our strategy is rights-based, but it is not lawyer-driven,” he said.

Under the legislation, people with disabilities are entitled to a statement of services, access to an appeals process to deal with complaints about the assessment of service and ultimate access to the courts if required, Mr Ahern said.