Labour pledges to end neglect of the disabled

The Labour Party has vowed to end the neglect of and discrimination against disabled people if it forms part of the next Government.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, party spokeswoman Roisin Shortall said Labour will introduce rights-based legislation for people with disabilities, something the outgoing Government was criticised for not doing.

Labour launched its proposals by slamming the failure of the Disabilities Bill and the Disabilities in Education Bill, which, the party said, proved that the Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition never gave priority to the issues surrounding disability.

Ms Shortall said right-based legislation, which would guarantee minimum standards of treatment for disabled people and give them legal recourse if this treatment was denied, is the best way to end years of discrimination and neglect. She said that such legislation is a first step and that

services like acceptable education and healthcare for the disabled will follow.

The Labour Party also wants to insert a right to life-long learning into the constitution, a move that would effectively reverse the Synott judgement of last year. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the State is not obliged to provide education for people over the age of 18, regardless of their needs.