- The Disability Participation and Consultation Network will make sure people with a disability will be involved in the development of policy and legislation.
- Following a process to find organisations to receive funding to help run the Network, this call is now being run to find interested people with disabilities, Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) and disability organisations to become Members of the Network.
- Members will take part in the running of the Network and be central to its work of gathering and representing the views of people with disabilities and making sure that those views are heard in the development of policy and legislation.
- Consultation on Ireland’s Initial State Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an immediate task for the Network.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Ms Anne Rabbitte T.D. today invited interested parties to apply to become members of Ireland’s Disability Participation and Consultation Network.
Having selected organisations to be funded to help run the Network, individual people with disabilities, DPOs and representative organisations are now being invited to become members of the Network.
Members will be an important part of the Network and its job of ensuring that people with disabilities are involved in the development of policy and law, in line with the requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
People with disabilities and organisations from all backgrounds and experiences are invited to apply to become a Member. Although Membership places are limited there will still be chances to get involved with the Network when it begins its work.
Further details of the Network, the role of Members and details of how to apply are available on the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth website.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 11am on Friday, 27th November 2020.
Announcing this invitation for expressions of interest, Minister Rabbitte said:
Members of the Participation and Consultation Network will be central to the work of ensuring that people with a disability will be heard directly and be engaged with meaningfully when legislation and policy is being formulated.
Since taking office, it’s been my imperative to hear firsthand the experiences of people with disabilities and how their lives have been impacted. Such engagements are crucial, and this lived experience can shape policy and legislation in a real way, ensuring a more inclusive and integrated approach to how we develop policies into the future.
I would invite individuals with disabilities, Disabled Person’s Organisations and disability organisations representing the wide range of disability experiences in Ireland to apply. Training and support will be provided by the Network and, in particular, I hope that people who may normally be distanced from, or who have not felt the opportunity to be involved in similar activities, will look to become involved.
Notes for Editors:
- The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in 2006. Ireland signed the Convention in 2007 and ratified the Convention in 2018.
- Ireland is due to submit its Initial State Report to the Committee.
- Under the UNCRPD, the effective participation of, and consultation with, persons with Disabilities in the development of policy and legislation is crucial.
- The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017 - 2021 is the key framework for policy and action to address the needs of people with disabilities. The Department of Justice and Equality is the lead department for this strategy.
- Further details of the Disability Participation and Consultation Network, including the application process and relevant documents are available on the The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth website.
- The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is Ireland’s designated Focal Point and Coordination Mechanism under the UNCRPD.
- A DPO is an organisation representing persons with disabilities focused on the promotion of their rights. These organisations have to be mainly composed of and led by persons with disabilities. In the case of people with significant intellectual or multiple disabilities, they can also be family-based organisations advocating for the human rights of persons with disabilities.