Proposed legislation is fatally flawed

Once described by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as being better than any similar laws in the world, those whose needs the Disability Bill purports to serve last night gathered to implore the Government not to enact it.

The bill was ingloriously withdrawn three years ago in an embarrassing U-turn by the Government before the general election on foot of a torrent of objections from disability groups and opposition parties.

Its successor was the target of opposition in the RDS last night from a range of groups, with the support of the Human Rights Commission.