Disability group slates Government over bill

THE National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability has accused the Government of a “complete failure” to consult with disability groups regarding the implementation of the Disability Bill 2004.

At the opening of its AGM in Sligo today delegates will debate a motion calling for the bill to be shelved “in light of its failure to provide for rights for people with disabilities”.

“I expect there will be quite an angry response, as regardless of the talks of consultation and listening, we have had a complete absence of any response to our submissions to the Department of Justice,” Deirdre Carroll, general secretary of Namhi, said.

Namhi has repeatedly argued the bill will not meet the demand for basic rights and will force people with disabilities into “a bureaucratic nightmare” in the search for essential services.

The motion to scrap the bill will be put forward by Embrace, a group of parents with children with profound disabilities. The group is calling for the bill to be replaced with legislation that allows for an alternative “enforcement mechanism” to assess the needs of people with disabilities. The Disability Bill is due to reach the committee stage in the Dáil next month.