People with Disabilities in Ireland
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Email: info@pwdi.ie
The Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform Willie O'Dea TD has assured PwDI of his commitment to publishing a Disability Bill forward "at the earliest opportunity".
The Minister was speaking at the launch of PwDI Strategy 2003 -2006,and the PwDI Youth - Beyond Disability Seminars Report on March 26 March in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.
The following is a summary of his remarks.
'The PwDI Youth seminars, which were held in October and November of last year, were funded by my Department as an initiative under the European Year of People with Disabilities. I believe they provided an important forum for discussion of the issues affecting the lives of young people with disabilities in Ireland. A high profile advertising campaign, which included local and national press and radio coverage, was run before the seminars and I think that the positive feedback, which is provided by this report, is a testament to the success of the whole venture.
Among the many important issues discussed were education, employment, recreation and leisure facilities, and I think it is important that the key comments made, both by policy makers and the other attendees at the seminars have been compiled in this report. I believe it will provide much food for thought for anyone concerned with disability issues and, indeed, in relation to the development of a truly inclusive society in Ireland.
I understand that some discussion at the seminars focussed on the provision of services in the context of the equality legislation which has come into force in recent years. I believe everyone will acknowledge the importance of the statutory prohibition on discrimination provided by the Employment Equality Act in relation to access to employment, training, and employment progression as well as the Equal Status Act in relation to the supply of goods and services. My department provides a focal point for disability equality policy and legislation development and this role involves liaison with the Equality Authority in relation to its responsibility for working towards the elimination of discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
In this context it is interesting to note that just over 5% of the 998 new cases taken under the Employment Equality Act in 2002 related to disability issues and are mainly in respect of access to employment, conditions of employment and provision of services. Disability represents the third highest category for new cases being brought under both Acts. These two pieces of legislation have been a key success in our efforts to create a more inclusive society and equality of access to employment is vital to facilitate social and economic independence for people with disabilities, to empower people to realise their full personal potential and make their own individual contribution to the community life.
These issues are particularly relevant for us in 2003, which is the European Year of People with Disabilities. Ireland, and our EU partners are working together to create awareness about disability issues among the population at large and, more importantly, to promote awareness of the right of people with disabilities to equal opportunities and protection against discrimination.
The National Disability Authority is chairing the national co-ordinating committee, which is co-ordinating events for the year in Ireland. The members of the committee represent disability organisations, the Social Partners, Government Departments, and the media. My Department is represented on the Committee, which is focusing on four particular themes for the Year - Awareness Raising, Youth and Disability, Rights, Partnership and Responsibilities, and Employment. The committee is supporting a wide-ranging programme of projects nationwide, to highlight the aims of the Year.
Of course, this year has an added significance for Ireland, as the Special Olympics will be held here in June. The games will bring thousands of competitors from around the world to our shores and we are fortunate to be the first country outside the USA to host the event. This is a magnificent opportunity for the thousands of Irish people who have volunteered their time and expertise to interact with people with disabilities on an unprecedented level.
This special Year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the achievements we have made, and more importantly, what we must do in the future to make Ireland a truly inclusive society for all our people. This is an ongoing learning process for everyone, not just for people with disabilities and their families or representative organisations like PwDI. This process will include sharing information with our European neighbours on models of good practice and I know that PwDI are playing their part in this context with other representative organisations in Europe.
Before concluding, I want to assure you of the commitment of the Government to advancing the participation of people with disabilities in society. While there is no doubt that there have been some major improvements in recent years we still have areas where there are significant barriers to full inclusion in society, including attitudinal barriers to progress. In this regard, the Government is determined to bring forward a disability bill at the earliest opportunity and this follows the completion of the consultation process that was initiated last year. It is the Government's intention that the new Bill will be enacted this year as a concrete demonstration of our commitment in this European Year of People with Disabilities.
We all have much work to do to create a society, which not just tolerates diversity of abilities, but actively values the richness contained in this diversity and opens opportunities to allow each of us to give expression to our individual gifts. Organisations such as PwDI have a crucial role in advancing the work towards this goal, which I believe, will produce real and genuine benefits not just for people with disabilities, but for society as a whole.
It is my hope that PwDI will progress from strength to strength in the coming years and I feel sure that the organisation can make a very significant contribution in advancing the interests and welfare of people with disabilities by working in a co-operative and holistic way with statutory agencies and other organisations.
I would like to express my hope that, at the end of this European Year of People with Disabilities, there will be many other successful projects such as the Youth and Disability Seminars that we can reflect on. The voice of young people needs to be heard and the PwDI are to be congratulated on giving focus to that voice through the seminars and now, this report. I am most grateful for the opportunity you have given me to launch the report and the new Strategy Document. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership and co-operation with PwDI.'
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