UN criticises Ireland for failings on disabilities legislation

Ireland is yet to sign up to an optional protocol that would enable people with disabilities to make complaints to the UN about potential rights violations.

Ireland has come in for criticism by the United Nations for its failure to ratify a UN protocol on rights for people with disabilities. 

Markus Schefer, a member of the UN Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), said it suggests Ireland is not confident or comfortable enough to open itself up to international scrutiny.