Activists in the west have called for the immediate withdrawal of the Government's proposed Disability Bill, which they have described as "fundamentally flawed".
The demand comes on the eve of a meeting tomorrow between the Minister of State for Equality Issues, Mr Frank Fahey, and the Disability Legislation Consultation Group, which represents a number of national organisations on the issue. Defending the draft legislation, Mr Fahey told The Irish Times the Bill would come before the Dáil in the next fortnight, and said he "looked forward" to meeting disability representatives tomorrow.
However, representatives of the consultation group were among those who criticised the Bill at a meeting last week in NUI Galway hosted by the Rights Make the Difference campaign.
Among the speakers at the gathering were Ms Shivaun Quinlivan of the Disability Law and Policy Research Unit at NUI Galway, Mr Séamus Greene of the National Parents and Siblings Alliance (NPSA), and Ms Mary Keogh of the Forum of People with Disabilities.
Mr Frank Conaty, regional co-ordinator of the NPSA, said the frustration and disappointment expressed at the meeting by speaker after speaker reflected a general anger.
"It is now clearly apparent that this Bill does little to advance us from the unacceptable and, at times, appalling circumstances in which we currently find ourselves. Indeed, it can be argued that this Bill is a regressive piece of legislation, when you consider the problems highlighted."
Mr Conaty said the Bill was not rights-based, and the definition of "disability" was so restrictive as to be excluding. A person's assessed needs could not be enforced, and services selected for provision were subject to unnecessary resource constraints, he said.
Provisions in the Bill for improving access and developing sectoral plans were "largely aspirational", he added.
"None of the newly-provided-for officers that will be charged with making crucial decisions affecting our lives will be independent," he said.
"They are to be appointed either by the health boards or by the Minister for Health."
"The multi-annual funding that the Government talks of putting in place is not secured in the legislation, and has not been benchmarked against current spending. Its provision will be left to the whim of the current and future ministers for finance," Mr Conaty continued.
"This Bill is a travesty, and must not be allowed to advance."
Mr Fahey said he was expecting a submission from the National Disability Authority (NDA), having met them last week.
The Rights Make the Difference campaign represents the NSPA, the Forum for People with Disabilities and the Galway Centre for Independent Living.
