Advancing Ireland’s National Disability Strategy:
Building on Comparative and International Innovation
Conference hosted by Centre for
Disability Law and Policy, National University of Ireland
Galway
Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway, 10 December 2010
Conference Pack
Contents
About the Centre for Disability Law and Policy
About the Research Project
About Today’s Conference
10 Things that need to be done to move on the
National Disability Strategy (Easy to Read)
10 Steps for State Actors to Advance the National
Disability Strategy
Moving on Ireland’s National Disability Strategy:
Who, How and When? (Easy to Read)
Implementing and Monitoring Ireland’s National
Disability Strategy: Who, How and When?
Further Information
2
About the Centre for Disability Law and Policy
The Centre for Disability Law and Policy (CDLP) was formally
established in 2008 and is dedicated to producing research that
informs debate on national and international disability law reform.
The purpose of the CDLP is to broaden debate about disability law
reform in Ireland by placing it in an international and comparative
context and by highlighting international best practice. The CDLP
has undertaken a number of major research projects (including
projects on how to best configure national disability strategies and
how to achieve the personalisation of disability supports). It
contributes directly to policy debates by producing Quarterly Policy
Briefings on topical issues and by making detailed legislative
submissions to Government. The CDLP has a vibrant PhD
programme, and hosts public lectures and seminars for interested
stakeholders throughout the year.
The CDLP’s work reaches out to people with disabilities, family
members,
carers,
support
organisations,
policy-makers,
advocates, researchers and academics. With the establishment
this year of the Centre’s Local Consultation Group, the CDLP
hopes to ensure that it’s work is made relevant to people with
disabilities in our local community, in addition to gaining a national
and international profile for the CDLP.
The CDLP is also part of the Lifecourse Institute in the National
University of Ireland Galway: an alliance between the CDLP, the
Irish Centre for Social Gerontology and the Centre for Child and
3
Family Research. This alliance aims to advance an integrated
approach to policy and services research for older people, children
and families, and people with disabilities and has received support
from the University, as well as from Atlantic Philanthropies, which
will fund the establishment of a state of the art Institute Building on
campus.
About the Research Project
The title of the research project being launched at today’s
conference is “Advancing Ireland’s National Disability Strategy:
Building on Comparative and International Innovation.” This study
evolved from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy’s proposal to
undertake a Baseline Study of Disability in Ireland and is one of
the main research projects in the Centre, supported by Atlantic
Philanthropies. The title and scope of the research has evolved to
more accurately reflect the purpose of the study, which aims to
highlight the goals of Ireland’s National Disability Strategy and to
embed tools for success in the implementation process. It also
contains a major comparative study on the implementation and
monitoring processes for Disability Strategies and Action Plans
worldwide. Dr. Eilionóir Flynn is the postdoctoral researcher who
has worked on the project and written a book on this work for
Cambridge University Press, entitled From Rhetoric to Action:
Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities – the use of National Disability Strategies (forthcoming
in 2011).
The research project undertakes a detailed examination of the
4
structure of Irish disability law and policy, using the implementation
and monitoring processes of the National Disability Strategy as a
starting point. As the Strategy’s implementation is currently being
monitored by government departments, the National Disability
Strategy Stakeholders Monitoring Group and the National
Disability Authority, this project complements ongoing work by
bringing fresh perspectives to the implementation process – using
the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities as guidance for future reform.
This project contributes to the task reframing the National Disability
Strategy by imagining the substantive fields which should be
covered, by describing the critical success factors of other
strategies (even other national strategies such as the one on
mental health), by suggesting innovative mechanisms to drive
change forward and by highlighting the types of indicators which
can be used to measure progress being made.
About Today’s Conference
This conference will launch the recent findings of the Centre’s
research project on National Disability Strategies and the critical
success factors which enable strategies to make a difference for
people with disabilities at grassroots level. The keynote speech will
be delivered by United Nations Special Rapporteur on Disability,
Shuaib Chalklen. South African Shuaib Chalklen plays a leading
role in monitoring progress in promoting the rights of people with
disabilities around the world and nurturing Governments in the
right direction.
5
Other key international figures involved in disability law reform
speaking at the conference will include: Anne Hawker, current
President of Rehabilitation International and Advisor on disability to
the New Zealand government; Molly Harrington, Office of the
Disability Strategy for the Ministry of Housing and Social
Development, British Columbia; Siobhán Barron, Director of
Ireland’s
National
Disability
Authority
and
Angela
Kerins,
Chairperson of the Equality Authority.
This conference aims to highlight some of the key messages from
the book written for Cambridge University Press on a global
comparative study of National Disability Strategies, entitled “From
Rhetoric to Action: Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities – the use of National Disability
Strategies” which is due to be published in 2011. Some of the key
recommendations for improvements in the Irish National Disability
Strategy in this book will be discussed at the conference.
6
10 Things that need to be done to move on the
National Disability Strategy
Ireland has rules for disability called the
National Disability Strategy.
The Centre for Disability Law and Policy
looked at this strategy and put together
10 things that need to be done.
The Centre looked at other countries and what they did around
disability.
The Centre thinks that the 10 things below need to be done.
1. Keep Promises
Ireland should show that it is leading the way by keeping the
disability strategy going even in harder times.
Ireland should show that it wants to work together with the people
in the community to move the plan on.
2. Connect the National to the International
Ireland should ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities.
The Convention is an international
agreement that sets out what countries
have to do to make sure that disabled
people have the same rights as
everybody else.
Ireland should look at the
Disability Strategy
and make sure it follows what the
7
Convention says.
3. Make Things Clearer
Ireland should publish a report every year.
This report should say how we are doing with the
Disability Strategy.
A website should be set up so that people
could see these reports on the
Disability Strategy and any other news.
4. Involving people
More people with disabilities should take part in
looking at and making changes to the
Disability Strategy
Government should support people with
Disabilities to take part.
The services that people with disabilities
access should be designed with them in mind.
People with disabilities
should have a say in how the money is spent.
5. Make a plan with goals and timescales
Ireland should make a plan for the Disability Strategy.
There should be specified timescales and funding set aside for
every goal.
Law should be made that makes sure all public bodies have to
promote disability equality and inclusion
8
6. Making sure that goals are met.
Ireland should come up with a way to look
at the Disability Strategy.
An independent group could look at the
Disability Strategy and whether it is
doing what it is supposed to.
The Convention says that Ireland must have an independent group
to look at the Convention. This group could look at the Disability
Strategy too.
7. Develop ways to Measure how well we're doing.
We need to look at how well we are doing with the Strategy
We can look at the quality of people's lives
We can work with people with disabilities to come up with ways to
measure the progress of the Disability Strategy
8. Move Mainstreaming Forward
Mainstreaming means that people with
disabilities are taking part equally
in everyday life.
Government should think about how
all laws affect people with disabilities.
9. Look wider
9
Move away from making disability
separately to other policy.
Make sure that all national policies look
at things from the point of view of
people with disabilities for example the
Transport Plan, Education Plan
10. Plan for the future
Any new people who work for the government around disability
should understand what is important to people with disabilities. If
people leave and are replaced then the new people should know
what is important to people with disabilities.
There must be more public discussion on disability issues.
This document was prepared by Inclusion Ireland and read by people with disabilities
10
10 Steps for State Actors to Advance the National
Disability Strategy
These steps are drawn from the Centre for Disability Law and
Policy’s analysis of international best practice in “Advancing the
National Disability Strategy: Building on Comparative and
International Innovation.” These steps would apply to all
countries establishing a national disability strategy but especially
to Ireland as it takes its Strategy to the next level.
1. Renew the Commitment. Demonstrate leadership by reaffirming the State’s commitment to the National Disability
Strategy at this difficult time and renew a strong willingness to
work collaboratively with the community / voluntary sector to
advance the Strategy.
2. Connect the National to the International. Ratify the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(CRPD). Refresh national policy with the principles and rights
contained in the CRPD. Align the implementation/review
structures under the Strategy with the structures required by the
convention at national level (e.g. focal point(s), coordination
mechanism(s)
within
government
and
an
independent
monitoring mechanism).
3. Enhance
Transparency.
Increase
transparency
and
accountability by publishing Annual Reports on progress made
in achieving the National Disability Strategy as a whole (based
11
on reports from the various sectoral actors) and establish a
central accessible website with comprehensive information,
reviews, reports and updates on the Strategy.
4. Broaden Participation. Facilitate broader and meaningful
participation of people with disabilities (via direct representation
where possible and using all appropriate technology) in the
development and review of the Strategy. Give both voice and
power to the consumer by accelerating the process of
personalising services and conferring individualised budgets
with sufficient supports.
5. Draft a Detailed Implementation Plan. Develop a National
Disability Strategy Implementation Plan with timelines for
achieving goals and a funding programme to support
implementation. Introduce positive legal obligations on all public
bodies to promote disability equality and inclusion within their
remit.
6. Establish an Independent Monitoring Mechanism. Establish
a process for independent monitoring/external review of the
National Disability Strategy as whole, and its individual
legislative and policy components as is required under the
CRPD in any event.
7. Develop More Sophisticated Tools to Measure Progress.
Measure progress in delivering the Strategy by enhancing
existing mechanisms for data collection on life outcomes
(including qualitative information) for people with disabilities
12
(following the introduction of legislative and policy reform), as
well as implementation outcomes in relation to the Strategy.
Develop, with persons with disabilities, key policy indicators for
the Strategy.
8. Move Mainstreaming Forward. Commit to mainstreaming
disability equality (not simply mainstreaming public services for
people with disabilities or raising awareness of disability) by
proofing all forthcoming legislation and policy to assess its
potential impact on people with disabilities.
9. Broaden the Frame. Move away from separatist/specialist
disability policy to ensuing that all national policies consider the
perspectives of people with disabilities (e.g. National Transport
Plan, National Education Plan, etc).
10.
Ensure Sustainability. In undertaking any model of public
sector reform, consider ways to retain corporate knowledge of
issues of concern to people with disabilities and opportunities
for further (and broader) public engagement on these issues.
13
Moving on Ireland’s National Disability Strategy:
Who, How & When?
What is this document about?
This is an easy to read document.
There is a harder to read document.
That document has a lot more information.
This document is about Ireland's Disability
Strategy.
This means all the plans that Ireland has in place for disability laws
and policy.
Dr. Eilionóir Flynn has done research and has written a book on
Ireland’s Disability Strategy.
There is more information in the harder to read document.
14
The documents available at today’s conference look at what the
research found out and looks at the Irish National Disability
Strategy.
This document looks at who looks after Ireland’s Disability Strategy
and explains how the strategy is moved on by government and
other organisations.
This document looks at how the government are working on the
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The
Convention is an international agreement on the rights of people
with disabilities.
This document looks at ways in which
people with disabilities, their family
members, organisations and other
individuals can get involved or find
out more about how the
National Disability Strategy is going.
The Centre for Disability Law and Policy
will have these documents on its website
and keep the information up to date.
15
Who checks on the Disability Strategy?
There is a group called the National Disability Strategy
Stakeholders Monitoring Group (NDSSMG). They are in charge of
looking at the Disability Strategy and how well it is doing.
The group is made up of organisations that represent people with
disabilities, families, service providers and people from the
government.
Social partners such as trade unions and the National Disability
Authority attend as do other groups when more information is
needed.
The group have 2 meetings
a year and at the meetings,
someone from each
government department
gives a report about how
the goals are being met.
Some government departments
have Sectoral Plans. These are plans which set out what the
department will do to make sure people with disabilities are more
included and have more opportunities to take part in society.
Government departments with Sectoral Plans report to the group
on what they are doing with their plan.
Departments which do not have a Sectoral Plan give a report on
what work they are doing to include people with disabilities and
improve public services for people with disabilities.
The group reports to government once a year.
If people with disabilities or their family have something they would
like discussed they can contact a member of the group.
There is a lot more information in the harder to read document.
16
The Senior Officials Group on Disability
People from 10 government departments sit on the Senior Officials
Group.
6 of these government departments have a Sectoral Plan






Department of Health and Children
Department of Social Protection
Department of Transport
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local
Government
This group meets twice a year.
At these meetings, important things
are discussed like reports
to the NDSSMG, money or
other issues.
Areas that the departments can work
together on are discussed.
The Disability Stakeholders Group
6 organisations sit on this group
They are;
 Not for Profit Business Association who represent service
providers to people with physical and sensory disabilities
 National Federation of Voluntary Bodies who represents
service providers to people with intellectual disabilities.
 Inclusion Ireland who work for the rights of people with
intellectual disabilities and
17
 Irish Mental Health Coalition who work for better mental
health services and supports
 People with Disabilities in Ireland is a national group made
up of over 30 local networks of people with disabilities
 Disability Federation of Ireland who support voluntary
disability organisations in Ireland which provide services to
people with all disabilities
These groups were appointed by the NDA.
It is not clear what rules are in place
or how long the group will sit.
If an organisation leaves the group
the group will decide on a new organisation
as a replacement.
Members of the group are given jobs to look at different
government departments and may have smaller meetings on
particular issues.
The group has done some things well. For example, it helped
government departments to develop a way to report so that they all
report the same way.
The group also asked that the department meetings are held
NDSSMG meetings, which helps the organisations work better
with government.
The DSG reports are
important in improving
Sectoral Plans and policy
in general.
18
Social Partners and Others
The other groups which attend NDSSMG meetings are social
partners and the National Disability Authority. Social Partners are
groups who represent employers and trade unions.
At meetings they can talk about
how the working of the National
Disability Strategy affects
members of their organisations.
The current social partners represented
on the NDSSMG are
 Irish Business and Employers Confederation
 Irish Congress of Trade Unions
The National Disability Authority plays an important role in the
NDSSMG and in moving on the National Disability Strategy.
By law the Authority can look at the
Disability Strategy and whether services
are being made accessible.
It also looks at whether employment
targets are being met. The Disability
Strategy says that 3% of employees
in public bodies should be people with
disabilities)
19
The National Disability Strategy and the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Ireland has signed the Convention but has yet not ratified the
Convention. This means that Ireland agrees with Convention but
has not yet made it law.
The Convention sets out all the rights
of people with disabilities which
states should protect and you can
read an easy to read version
online:
http://www.fedvol.ie/_fileupload/File/UN%20Convention%20for%20
Persons%20with%20Disabilities.pdf
There is a group set up to look at issues around the Convention.
The following departments sit on the group:













Department of Justice and Law Reform,
Department of Social Protection,
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Department of Education and Skills,
Department of Employment, Trade and Innovation,
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources,
Department of the Environment, Housing and Local
Government,
Department of Health and Children,
Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport,
Department of Defence,
Department of Transport
Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht
Affairs.
The Office of Public Works
These departments and the Office of Public Works work on things
that concern people with disabilities and the Convention.
20
This group meets twice a year but may have smaller meetings on
issues.
This group has a work plan to look at any parts of the Disability
Strategy which must be changed because of the Convention and
any other things that may need to be changed.
An example of what is needed to
ratify the Convention is the Mental
Capacity Bill, which is expected to be
published in the coming months.
This Bill will change the law on people
with disabilities making decisions.
How to get involved?
If you want to find out more
about how the Disability Strategy
is being rolled out and looked at,
contact a representative of your
local disability organisation or service
provider to see if they are members
of the 6 groups which sit on the DSG.
You can also contact the DSG directly to find out what is
happening – or contact the government department which deals
with the issue you are interested in (e.g. regarding accessible
public transport, contact the Department of Transport) and ask for
the representative on the Senior Officials Group on Disability.
Check the websites of national disability organisations and
government departments for updates on the Strategy.
21
For more information on National Disability Strategies (in Ireland
and abroad) visit the Centre for Disability Law and Policy’s
website:




http://www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp/projects/strategies.html
Email: info.cdlp@nuigalway.ie
Telephone: +353 (0)91495888
Mobile/SMS: +353 (0)876660634
This document was prepared by Inclusion Ireland and read by people with disabilities
22
Implementing
and
Monitoring
Ireland’s
National
Disability Strategy: Who, How and When?
This document sets out who is responsible for implementing and
monitoring Ireland’s National Disability Strategy and explains how
the strategy is managed by government departments, public
bodies, disability organisations, social partners and others at
national level. It also explains how government departments in
Ireland are preparing to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities and who is involved in this process.
Finally, it suggests some ways in which people with disabilities,
their family members, organisations and other individuals can get
involved or find out more about the progress of the National
Disability Strategy. The Centre for Disability Law and Policy will
publish this and other more detailed documents relating to the
National Disability Strategy on its website and keep these updated
at regular intervals.
23
1. The National Disability Strategy Stakeholders
Monitoring Group
The National Disability Strategy Stakeholders Monitoring Group
(NDSSMG) monitors the strategy’s implementation at national
level and reports to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion.1
The NDSSMG is made up of two main subgroups: the Disability
Stakeholders Group (DSG) (national organisations representing
people with disabilities, families and service providers) and the
Senior Officials Group on Disability (government departments
responsible for implementing disability policy). Social partners
(Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Irish Business and Employers
Confederation) also attend the NDSSMG, as does the National
Disability Authority. Finally, some public bodies with responsibility
for developing and implementing disability policy, or providing
guidance to government can also attend at the request of a
particular department such as the National Council for Special
Education, the Health Services Executive and FAS (the national
vocational training body). The diagram below explains how the
NDSSMG and its subgroups operate and which departments and
bodies are represented on these.
1
This Committee is supported by a Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion, which
comprises senior civil servants from the relevant government departments. Such committees
are established by government to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities and have a
membership comprising two or more members of Government (and may also include the
Attorney General and Ministers of State). This committee must present a report to
government once a year which can highlight substantive issues for government approval. For
more information see Department of An Taoiseach, Cabinet Handbook (Dublin: Stationery
Office, 2007).
24
Key to diagram below
* The chair of the Disability Stakeholders Group was a
government appointment made by An Taoiseach in 2006. Dr.
Angela Kerins was the Chairperson of the National Disability
Authority (NDA) at that time. However, her appointment as
Chairperson of the DSG was not related to her position in the
NDA but made in her personal capacity.
** Due to a cabinet reshuffle in 2010 the Disability Equality Unit
in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was
renamed the Disability Policy Division and relocated to the
Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Therefore, the Department of Justice and Law Reform is no
longer represented on the NDSSMG.
*** The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment was
renamed the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation in
2010.
**** The Department of Education and Science was renamed
the Department of Education and Skills in 2010.
***** The Department of Social and Family Affairs was renamed
the Department of Social Protection in 2010.
All departments marked ^ are legally obliged to prepare Sectoral
Plans.
25
26
The NDSSMG meets twice a year. At each meeting, government
department representatives present a 6 month progress report.
The content of the report varies depending on the department. For
example, departments which are obliged to prepare a sectoral plan
under the Disability Act (marked ^ above)2 present on how the
goals set out in the sectoral plan have been achieved. A Sectoral
Plan is a plan which sets out what actions that department will take
to make sure people with disabilities are more included and have
more
opportunities
to
participate
in
society.
Government
departments which do not have a Sectoral Plan (e.g. the
Department of Education and Skills) report on what they are doing
to include people with disabilities and improve public services for
people with disabilities within their remit. The Department of
Finance presents a report at the NDSSMG on disability
expenditure, based on information collected from all other
departments. The Department of An Taoiseach co-chairs meetings
of the NDSSMG with the Chair of the DSG and can report on
national issues relating to the implementation of the National
Disability Strategy.
People with disabilities and their families can have a say in the
issues discussed by the NDSSMG by contacting representatives of
the national disability organisations who attend these meetings.
Some disability organisations, such as the Disability Federation of
Ireland, include information on the outcomes or issues discussed
2
These government departments are as follows: the Department of Health and Children, the
Department of Social Protection, the Department of Transport, the Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and
Innovation and the Department of the Environment, Housing and Local Government.
27
at the NDSSMG in monthly newsletters circulated to all members.
At the moment, the Disability Stakeholders Group as a whole does
not produce a newsletter with updates about the NDSSMG but this
possibility has been discussed.
2. The Senior Officials Group on Disability
Ten government departments are represented in the Senior
Officials Group. All six government departments which prepare
Sectoral Plans under the Disability Act 2005 are represented,
along with other departments which play a key role in developing
and implementing policies affecting people with disabilities (e.g.
the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of An
Taoiseach, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht
Affairs and the Department of Finance). The departments which
are not represented are the Department of Foreign Affairs, the
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of
Defence
and
the
Department
of
Tourism.
At
least
one
representative from each of the departments on the Senior
Officials Group on Disability will attend these meetings, and some
departments have two representatives. Meetings of the group are
chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach and the Disability
Policy Division in the Department of Community, Equality and
Gaeltacht Affairs is the secretariat for the group.
The Senior Officials Group meets twice a year, before the biannual NDSSMG meetings. Topics for discussion at meetings of
the Senior Officials Group include issues of national importance
arising from government departments’ progress reports to the
28
NDSSMG, the budget, or other relevant national issues relating to
disability. These meetings are also an opportunity for government
department representatives to discuss any cross-cutting issues
which require co-operation with other departments or public
bodies. Some government departments which attend the Senior
Officials Group have a dedicated unit or division which deals with
disability policy (e.g. the Disability Policy Division in the
Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs). Other
government departments send representatives from their coordination units (e.g. units which gather information on progress in
implementing the department’s Sectoral Plan, such as the
Coordination Unit in the Department of Communications, Energy
and Natural Resources).
3. The Disability Stakeholders Group
Six national organisations represent the disability community on
the Disability Stakeholders Group (DSG). The Not for Profit
Business Association represents service providers to people with
physical and sensory disabilities and the National Federation of
Voluntary Bodies represents service providers to people with
intellectual disabilities. Inclusion Ireland is a national organisation
promoting the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and
includes family members, individuals, and organisations providing
support to people with disabilities in its membership. Mental health
organisations were originally represented in the DSG by Mental
Health Ireland, but when this group withdrew in 2009, the Irish
Mental Health Coalition (a group of organisations campaigning for
better mental health services and supports) took its place. People
29
with Disabilities in Ireland is a national group made up of over 30
local networks of people with disabilities (across all disability types)
and is solely funded by the Department of Community, Equality
and Gaeltacht Affairs. Finally, the Disability Federation of Ireland is
the
national
support
organisation
for
voluntary
disability
organisations in Ireland which provide services to people with
disabilities (across all disability types). The group is chaired by
Angela Kerins and the National Disability Authority provides the
secretariat for the group.
When government departments were drawing up sectoral plans,
the National Disability Authority was asked to nominate six groups
which could represent the disability sector in further discussions on
developing the sectoral plans and implementing the National
Disability Strategy. The DSG did not publish its terms of reference
and it is not clear what the duration of appointments are. If an
organisation leaves the group, it appears to be the responsibility of
the group as a whole to nominate a new group as a replacement.
Members of the DSG are assigned specific roles to shadow
various government departments and may hold DSG subcommittee meetings on these topics, requesting information from a
broader group of disability organisations on priorities for action or
questions which should be asked of particular government
departments.
The DSG has made a number of significant improvements to the
monitoring process since its inception. For example, it assisted
government departments to develop a template for their 6-monthly
30
progress reports3 to ensure that there is a consistent standard of
reporting. The group also requested that departmental consultative
fora meetings be held shortly before NDSSMG meetings, to
ensure that any questions which need to be asked at departmental
level are dealt with in the appropriate forum, allowing the
NDSSMG to focus on issues of national importance. It is important
to remember that there is no other area of policy-making in Ireland
where all government departments must meet twice a year with
representative voluntary organisations to report on progress, and
this achievement in itself is highly significant. In addition, the
submissions of the DSG collectively and individually to progress
reports on sectoral plans, the review of the Disability Act and prebudget submissions have also had an impact on recent policy
developments.
3. Social Partners and Others
The other groups which attend NDSSMG meetings are social
partners (organisations representing employers and trade unions)
and the National Disability Authority. Based on the system of social
partnership in Ireland, where national employers’ associations and
trade union groups are involved in developing national policy e.g.
(Towards
2016:
Ten
Year
Framework
Social
Partnership
Agreement 2006-2015)4 these groups are also invited to NDSSMG
meetings as they can discuss how the implementation of the
National Disability Strategy affects members of their organisations.
3
See for example, the template used by the Department of Transport, available at
<http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/12284-4TH_PROGRESS_REPORT_PART_34.DOC> (last accessed 20 November 2010).
4 Department of An Taoiseach, Towards 2016: Ten Year Framework Social Partnership
Agreement 2006-2015 (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2008).
31
The current social partners represented on the NDSSMG are the
Irish Business and Employers Confederation and the Irish
Congress of Trade Unions.
The National Disability Authority plays an important role in the
NDSSMG and in advancing the National Disability Strategy. As a
public body, it is involved in implementing the National Disability
Strategy, in accordance with obligations under the Disability Act
2005 (e.g. requirements to make public services accessible). It
also monitors elements of the National Disability Strategy (e.g.
compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act which sets out that 3%
of the employees of public bodies should be people with
disabilities). The National Disability Authority also works with
government departments
4. The National Disability Strategy and the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD)
At the time of writing, Ireland has signed the CRPD but has yet not
ratified. However, the Irish government has expressed its intention
to ratify the CRPD once Ireland has enacted the necessary legal
reforms.5 The CRPD sets out all the rights of people with
disabilities which states should protect including civil, political,
social, economic and cultural rights.
Department of Justice and Law Reform, “Minister Ahern announces proposals for a Mental
Capacity Bill” (Dublin: Department of Justice and Law Reform, 2008) available at <
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Minister%20Ahern%20announces%20proposals%20for
%20a%20Mental%20Capacity%20Bill> (last accessed 1 December 2010).
5
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Irish government departments participate in an Interdepartmental
Committee on the CRPD, which was set up to discuss any issues
which need to be dealt with before Ireland ratifies the Convention.
This committee includes representatives from the following
Departments: Department of Justice and Law Reform, Department
of Social Protection, Department of Foreign Affairs, department of
Education and Skills, Department of Employment, Trade and
Innovation, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources, Department of the Environment, Housing and Local
Government, Department of Health and Children, Department of
Tourism, Culture and Sport, Department of Defence, Department
of Transport and Department of Community, Equality and
Gaeltacht Affairs. The Office of Public Works is the only public
body which is not a government department and is represented on
the committee. These departments (and the Office for Public
Works) were selected because some of their work relates to
people with disabilities and to articles contained in the Convention.
This committee meets twice a year as a full group, although some
departments may meet separately to discuss particular issues. The
Disability Policy Division in the Department of Community, Equality
and Gaeltacht Affairs chairs the committee.
This committee has developed a Work Programme to look at any
parts of the National Disability Strategy which must be changed
because of the Convention and any other reforms which are
required for ratification. An example of legislation required for
ratification of the CRPD is the Mental Capacity Bill, which is
expected to be published in the coming months. This Bill will
reform the law on people with disabilities making decisions.
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Further information
If you want to find out more about how Ireland’s National Disability
Strategy is being implemented and monitored, here are some
steps you can take.
1. Contact a representative of your local disability organisation
or service provider to see if they are members of the 6
national groups which sit on the Disability Stakeholders
Group.
2. You can also contact the organisations which are members
of the Disability Stakeholders Group to find out more.
3. Contact the government department which deals with the
issue you are interested in (e.g. regarding accessible public
transport, contact the Department of Transport) and ask for
the representative on the Senior Officials Group on
Disability.
4. Check the websites of national disability organisations and
government departments for updates on the Strategy and
progress reports on Sectoral Plans.
The Centre for Disability Law and Policy has prepared some
more detailed documents on the success factors which make
National Disability Strategies effective (with examples of best
practice from Ireland and abroad) and documents with more
detail
on
how
Ireland’s
National
Disability
Strategy
is
implemented and monitored within government departments,
public bodies and local authorities. These documents (including
34
accessible versions) will be kept updated on our website and
can be viewed at:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp/projects/strategies.html
If you require any assistance with accessible documents or would
like any more information, please contact the Centre at: Email:
info.cdlp@nuigalway.ie Tel: +353 (0)91495888 Mobile/SMS: +353
(0)87 6660634
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