Government is blocking UN disability treaty

AS the national representative organisation of People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI) and also as service users, we have had several commitments from this Government, going back to 1997, that they would fully implement the Commission Report on People with Disabilities, entitled A Strategy for Equality.

This report had 402 recommendations for change and very few of these have been implemented to date.

Now we find out through leaks and questions asked at EU and Oireachtas level that the Government is blocking the UN treaty on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

At EU level, the Government is the only country (of the 15) opposed to the treaty.

Is it any wonder that the UN, in its annual reports for the past couple of years, has criticised the Government for its treatment of people with disabilities?

It must be remembered that people with disabilities are not sick any more often than able-bodied people.

Therefore, what we need is a social model of disability instead of a medical model.

All the obstacles and barriers that impede a person with a disability from participating and integrating fully into society are man-made.

What we need is rights-based legislation that is enforceable and proper sanctions for non-compliance.

People with disabilities should not have to go with cap in hand to service providers and State agencies looking for the crumbs of the national cake.

This might have been acceptable in the early 20th century Ireland, but not in the 21st century.

What we need are rights not charity or patronising remarks and tokenism from this Government.

Tom Power,

Chairman,

Waterford Disability

Network (PwDI),

22 Lower Main Street,

Dungarvan,

Co Waterford.