Government to ratify protocol allowing people with disabilities to take case to UN
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Ireland will finally pass a much-demanded for protocol for people with disabilities under plans to be brought to Cabinet on Tuesday.
Ireland has yet to ratify the optional protocol to UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, which it signed in 2018. The optional protocol establishes a complaints mechanism under the convention, and its absence was one reason why disability advocates said they were against March's referendum on care — which was resoundingly defeated.
Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman will ask the Government to approve ratification of the protocol, which will be a major milestone in the rights of people with disabilities. It will, for the first time, allow them to take a case directly to the UN if they feel their rights are being denied.
Around 100 countries have already ratified the protocol, including 22 EU member states and Britain.
It has been a long-standing campaign ask for disabled rights organisations, as well as being called for by the Law Society and Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
Media Minister Catherine Martin is expected to bring measures that will reform the Broadcasting Act, and assign the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ. This will mean RTÉ's audits are brought to the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee.
The reforms will include measures to strengthen the authority, role, and functions of the boards of RTÉ and TG4. In line with the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission, the proposals will convert the statutory Broadcasting Fund to a platform-neutral Media Fund.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan will look for Government approval at Cabinet for legislation to allow for the payment of two energy credits of €125 each.
Mr Ryan wants the first payment to be made from November 1 and the second from January 1.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys will bring a memo detailing the timetable for the delivery of the 10 cost-of-living payments secured as part of Budget 2025. The first payment will be during the week commencing October 18 and the final payments will be on the week commencing December 2.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) had a record year in 2023 with €8.651m forwarded to the Central Fund, Cabinet will hear. Justice Minister Helen McEntee will also inform Cabinet that she will support the expansion of CAB by 45% over the next two years.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will get Cabinet approval to draft amending legislation which will clarify procedures for Irish residents or citizens undertaking donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) abroad in applying for a declaration of parentage.
The Minister for the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, will bring annual reports for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, and Marine Institute to Cabinet, while the Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien will bring legislation to give effect to the €1.25bn allocated to the Land Development Agency in last week's budget.