Working Document On Conference: “Advancing
The National Disability Strategy: Building On
Comparative And International Innovation”
10 December 2010
Centre For Disability Law And Policy
Morning Session 1
DRAFT PROGRAMME (AS OF 30 NOVEMBER 2010)
The purpose of this conference is to bring together a wealth of
international experience and innovation in crafting National
Disability Strategies to advance the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It will showcase recent
research from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the
National University of Ireland, Galway which reflects on the past
and the future of the Irish National Disability Strategy in light of
international and comparative experience.
8:00-8:30 Registration and tea and coffee
8.30am
Welcome President of the National University of
Ireland, Galway, Dr. James Browne.
Opening Conference Minister of State for Equality,
Disability and Mental Health, Mr. John Moloney.
8.40am
Key Note Address The key role of National Disability
Strategies in advancing the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Mr. Shuaib Chalklen, United Nations Special
Rapporteur on Disability.
9.20am
Response Ms. Siobhán Barron, Chief Executive,
National Disability Authority of Ireland.
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9.35am
Main Findings of the Research Dr. Eilionóir Flynn,
Researcher, Centre for Disability Law and Policy,
National University of Ireland, Galway.
10.00-10.30am Coffee break
Morning Session 2
10.30-12pm
Nothing About Us Without Us – Meaningful
Consultation and Engagement at Local, National, Regional
and International Levels.
Chair: Mr. Martin Naughton, Co-Executive Director, European
Network on Independent Living.
Article 4(3) requires States to closely consult with and actively
involve people with disabilities in the development and
implementation of legislation, policies and in other decision-making
processes. The purpose of this session is to trace how this is being
done and how it can be maintained and enhanced.
Local:
 Ms. Marie Wolfe from Centre for Disability Law and Policy
Local Consultation Group and Inclusive Research Network
on how to re-engage consultation in Ireland.
 Ms. Nicola Brown from PPR Project on using human rights
discourse to participate in decision-making.
 Mayor Rony Molina from the San Jose de Buena Vista
Province, Philippines on developing world perspectives on
local consultation. 20 mins.
National:
 Mr. Bill Ryan, Assistant Principal, Department of Social and
Family Affairs, on Department’s Consultative Forum and
 Mr. John Dolan, Chief Executive Officer of Disability
Federation of Ireland on Disability Stakeholders Group. 20
mins.
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Regional:
 Ms. Simona Giarratano, Social Policy Officer, European
Disability Forum, and
 Ms. Ima Placencia Porrero, Deputy Head of Unit for
Integration of Persons with Disabilities Directorate General
for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities,
European Union – the need for coordinated consultation to
progress strategies at European level which filter down to
national level.
20 mins
International: Lessons from international consultation, the
experience of drafting the CRPD –
 Ms. Jamie Bolling, Sweden, Executive Director, European
Network on Independent Living.
 Ms. Satya Jennings, Human Rights and Economic and
Social Issues Section, Research and Right to Development
Division, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights. 20 mins.
 Q&A session. 30 mins
12pm-1pm Lunch break
Afternoon Session 1
1pm - 2.30pm Strategic Implementation – Tools for Success
Chair: Ms. Deirdre Carroll, Chief Executive, Inclusion Ireland
Article 31 requires states to collect information including
appropriate statistics and data to assist in the implementation of
the Convention and to disseminate information which assesses
implementation in a manner which is accessible to people with
disabilities. The purpose of this session is to explore how the
development of new policy tools can help advance National
Strategies.
Government departments as learning organisations –
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 Ms. Molly Harrington, Office of Disability Strategy for the
Ministry of Housing and Social Development, British
Columbia, and
 TBC, Representative from the Department of Community,
Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.
20 mins.
Evidence Base: Statistics and Indicators –
 Mr. Kevin McCormack, Senior Statistician, Central Statistics
Office Ireland, and
 Professor Jerome Bickenbach, Head of Disability Policy
Unit, Swiss Paraplegic Research – using indicators of
disability equality to measure progress in implementation.
20 mins.
Transparency - Disseminating information on progress achieved
in strategy –
 Ms. Anne Hawker, President of Rehabilitation International
and Principal Disability Advisor, Ministry of Social
Development, New Zealand, and
 Ms. Mary Van Lieshout, Head of Research and Standards
Development, National Disability Authority.
20 mins
 Q&A session
30 mins.
2.30pm-3pm Coffee break
Afternoon Session 2
3.pm-4.30pm Independent Monitoring – Checks and Balances
Chair: Dr. Arthur O’Reilly (former Chief Executive of the
National Rehabilitation Board and National Disability
Authority)
Article 33 requires the establishment of independent monitoring
mechanisms at domestic level to oversee the implementation
process. Civil society and people with disabilities must be involved
and participate fully in the monitoring process. The purpose of this
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session is to explore how this has been done, its practical benefits
for all parties and how it can be enhanced.
A Direct Link between National and International Monitoring –
Australia’s National Disability Strategy and the Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (pre-recorded
presentation)
 Commissioner Graeme Innes, Disability Discrimination
Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner,
Australian Human Rights Commission,
 Mr. David Mason, Strategic Policy Team, Australian Human
Rights Commission and
 Ms. Rosemary Kayess, Visiting Fellow, Faculty of Law,
University of New South Wales
20 mins.
The role of national human rights institutions and
Ombudsmen in monitoring National Disability Strategies –
 Mr. Des Hogan, Deputy CEO, Irish Human Rights
Commission, and
 Mr. Brendan O’ Neill, Investigator (Assistant Principal),
Office of the Ombudsman, Ireland.
20 mins.
The role of the media in monitoring implementation –
promoting a culture of transparency and accountability –
 Mr. Carl O’Brien, Chief Reporter, Irish Times, and
 Ms. Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Editor, Irish Times.
20
mins
 Q&A session.
20 mins
Personal Reflections on Ireland’s National Disability Strategy:
Looking Back, Looking Forward –
 Dr. Angela Kerins, CEO Rehab Group, Chair of the
Disability Stakeholders Group and Co-Chair of the National
Disability Strategy Stakeholders Monitoring Group.10 mins
4.30pm-5pm
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 Dr. Monica Wilson OBE, Chief Executive, Disability Action,
Belfast – Conference Rapporteur – key themes from the day
and
 Dr. Eilionóir Flynn, Researcher, Centre for Disability Law
and Policy, National University of Ireland, Galway, to close
conference.
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Speaker List in Alphabetical Order by Surname
Ms. Siobhán Barron, Chief Executive, National Disability Authority of Ireland
Professor Jerome Bickenbach (Head of Disability Policy Unit, Swiss
Paraplegic Research)
Ms. Jamie Bolling (Sweden, Executive Director, European Network on
Independent Living)
Dr. James Browne (President of the National University of Ireland, Galway)
Ms. Deirdre Carroll (Chief Executive, Inclusion Ireland)
Mr. Shuaib Chalklen (United Nations Special Rapporteur on Disability)
Ms. Carol Coulter (Legal Affairs Editor, Irish Times)
Mr. John Dolan (Chief Executive Officer of Disability Federation of Ireland)
Ms. Simona Giarratano, (Social Policy Officer, European Disability Forum)
Ms. Molly Harrington (Policy and Research Division, Ministry of Housing and
Social Development, British Columbia, Canada)
Ms. Anne Hawker (President of Rehabilitation International and Principal
Disability Advisor, Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand)
Mr. Des Hogan (Deputy CEO, Irish Human Rights Commission)
Commissioner Graeme Innes (Disability Discrimination Commissioner and
Race Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission)
Ms. Satya Jennings (Human Rights and Economic and Social Issues
Section, Research and Right to Development Division, UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights)
Ms. Rosemary Kayess (Visiting Fellow, Faculty of Law, University of New
South Wales)
Dr. Angela Kerins (CEO Rehab Group, Chair of the Disability Stakeholders
Group and Co-Chair of the National Disability Strategy Stakeholders
Monitoring Group)
Mr. David Mason (Strategic Policy Team, Australian Human Rights
Commission)
Mr. Kevin McCormack (Senior Statistician, Central Statistics Office Ireland)
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Mayor Rony Molina (Mayor of San Jose de Buena Vista Province,
Philippines)
Mr. John Moloney (Minister of State for Equality, Disability and Mental
Health)
Mr. Martin Naughton (Co-Executive Director, European Network on
Independent Living)
Mr. Carl O’ Brien (Chief Reporter, Irish Times)
Mr. Brendan O’ Neill (Investigator, Assistant Principal, Office of the
Ombudsman, Ireland)
Dr. Arthur O’ Reilly (former Chief Executive of the National Rehabilitation
Board and National Disability Authority)
Ms. Ima Placencia Porrero (Deputy Head of Unit for Integration of Persons
with Disabilities Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal
Opportunities, European Union)
Mr. Bill Ryan (Assistant Principal, Department of Social and Family Affairs)
Ms. Mary Van Lieshout (Head of Research and Standards Development,
National Disability Authority)
Dr. Monica Wilson OBE (Chief Executive, Disability Action, Belfast)
Ms. Marie Wolfe (Service User, Centre for Disability Law and Policy Local
Consultation Group)
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