Dear Editor,
Renua are first political party into the field with their General Election manifesto. Maybe a little too early to have hit the right disability inclusion note given that they present themselves as a reformist influence.
There is no doubt that their intentions are sound where they focus on disability inclusion in their manifesto, and in their commitment to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD). However, the commitments are not cohesive – they will not ensure that people with disabilities feel the rightful benefits of the implementation of the UNCRPD. They are vague in relation to the level of outcomes and show insufficient evidence of the robust public service reform and governance mechanisms that are required to deliver the commitment that our State has already given to implement the UN CRPD.
As people with disabilities, we have learnt the hard way that good and positive intentions don’t cause full and timely delivery. The phrase “Committed To” will not be bought on this occasion by the 600,000 people with disabilities and their families. We await the specifics of what is to be delivered and the mechanisms required to achieve delivery. There is time for that to happen before the election.
Yours Faithfully,
John Dolan
CEO
Disability Federation of Ireland
Fumbally Court
Fumbally Lane
Dublin 8
