Mentions of Disability Within Irish Political Parties' European And
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Mentions of Disability within Irish Political Parties’ European and Local Election manifestos and within their comprehensive disability policies 23/05/19 The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) recognises that both independent candidates and registered Parties may make important reference to disability in their materials. However, this research focuses specifically on mentions of disability issues in the European and Local election manifestos and comprehensive disability specific policies of the twenty three political parties registered with the Standards In Public Office Commission, SIPO.* It is also noted also that some parties may not be running candidates in both the local and European elections. European Elections Of the twenty three political parties registered in Ireland, the following made mention of disability and relevant keywords associated with disability in their European Election manifestos.* 1 Party Transport Health Employment Housing Education General Fianna ✓ ✓ Fail Fine ✓ ✓ ✓ Gael Sinn ✓ ✓ Fein Labour ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Green ✓ ✓ Fianna Fail https://www.fiannafail.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Fianna- Fa%CC%81il-european-election-manifesto-2019.pdf In their manifesto they say: • “The InterRail pilot program should be expanded and developed to enable more young people to enjoy this special experience. Additional steps should be taken to allow students with a disability to fully access the scheme.” • “People with a disability should not be forgotten about in assessing the international priorities of the EU. This means setting standards for disability rights in countries applying for EU membership as part of the core qualifying criteria.” Fine Gael https://www.finegael.ie/app/uploads/2019/05/European-Manifesto-2019- PRINT.pdf In their manifesto they say: 2 • “Support the efforts of the Work Forum to monitor Member States’ implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” • “Promote independent living across the EU for people with disabilities, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” • “Promote the work of the Disability Intergroup in the European Parliament to ensure MEPs focus on improving the lives of people with disabilities during the next legislature” Sinn Fein https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2019/Sinn_Fe%CC%81in_European_Election _Manifesto_20191.pdf In their manifesto they say: • “Nobody who goes out to work every day, or is forced to stay at home through disability or because they are caring for others, should struggle to pay their bills or keep a roof over their head.” • “All legislation to be gender-proofed and disability-proofed so that women and people with disabilities are not negatively affected by any legislation” Labour https://www.labour.ie/download/pdf//labour_european_manifesto_2019_ web.pdf In their manifesto they say: • “We will seek investment to help integrate people with disabilities into the workforce” 3 • “There needs to be greater enforcement of rules on the recognition of European workers’ qualifications, including the qualifications of workers with a disability” • “We will look to extend EU funding to support the rapid diagnosis and treatment/support for children with disabilities to limit their loss of educational attainment and life opportunities” • “Labour MEPs will call for the full implementation at EU level of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and work with disability organisations to achieve this” • “We will promote and support measures to ensure that all persons with disabilities have access to inclusive education, with personalised supports, and an inclusive workplace in the open labour market with a fair wage, reasonable accommodation, and access to an effective social protection system” • “The EU must take a strong stance on ending the segregation of persons with disabilities in institutions, and support measures to assist people to transition from institutional to community-based living” Green https://www.greenparty.ie/wp- content/uploads/2019/05/2019_european_election_manifesto_final_- _web.pdf • The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities must be implemented and audited by all member states at both a local and national level. • Access to Services. People with disabilities must be included in decisions which concern them, including having full access to voting. All public services, including transport should be accessible to all. 4 Local Elections Of the twenty three political parties registered in Ireland, the following made mention of disability and relevant keywords associated with disability in their Local Election manifestos.* Party Transport Health Employment Housing Education General Fianna Fail ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Fine Gael ✓ ✓ ✓ Sinn Fein ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Labour ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Social ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Democrats Green ✓ ✓ Renua ✓ Housing ✓ Rights and Reform Alliance Fianna Fail https://www.fiannafail.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Fianna- Fa%CC%81il-Local-Elections-Manifesto-2019.pdf In their manifesto they say: • “Implement a new contract for independent living for people with a disability” 5 In this contract they will • Publish an implementation plan for rights of persons with a disability • Ensure that adequate provision for people with a disability is made in new social housing units • Implement key recommendations from the “Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities” report • Support the building of accessible infrastructure • Ensure ETBs promote and encourage engagement with people with a disability • Support local disability groups to participate in local decision- making processes • Expand the Autism Friendly towns initiative nationwide Fine Gael https://www.finegael.ie/app/uploads/2019/05/Local-Manifesto-2019- PRINT.pdf In their manifesto they say: • “Fine Gael wants to give people with a disability greater independence and choice in accessing services which best meet their individual needs. We will continue to work with Local Authorities to ensure that the Housing Adaptation Grants are accessible and available to those who need it the most. Fine Gael Councillors will support investment and adaptations that provide improved access in towns and villages, playground, local sporting facilities to those with a disability” • “In 2017, the Government approved the first ever Sports Policy for Ireland with a commitment to double the spend in sport (incl. community, high performance, Women and Disability Sports) by 2025.” 6 • “Tralee Community Care provides daily hot meal to older people and to a local creche and special needs school.” Sinn Fein https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2019/A4_2019manifesto26C.pdf In their manifesto they say: • “It is ensured that each local authority would promote and work towards disability proofing all of their work including annual budgets and ensure their areas are disability friendly and accessible. There should be a multi-department and all of Authority approach to disability issues eg Transport / Environment / Finance etc in all local authorities” • “All local authorities would employ a Disability Liaison/Access and Equality Officer to whom disabled persons can contact and meet if they need specific access supports and to whom they can address any problems they encounter when accessing services” • “Persons with disabilities should be encouraged and accommodated to take up positions on decision making bodies at local level.” • “Independent living should be promoted at all times in line with government de-congregation policy and also to allow persons with disabilities to move on from their family home settings where sought.” • “We ensure all new builds social and private meet universal design standards. Engagement should happen also with Approved Housing Bodies to ensure provision of housing for people with disabilities.” • “In line with the National Housing Strategy for People with Disabilities, the Housing and Disability Steering Committees in every local authority should regularly update local government representatives on the work of their groups to oversee the drive to improve the provision of social housing to people with disabilities.” 7 • “Every local authority maintain a register of all wheelchair” accessible social housing in their area and occupancy status” • “All local authorities should ensure that at least 7% of all new social housing is fully wheelchair accessible housing, for the purposes of living, which would increase based on the approved housing list and the demand in the area.” • “All local authorities would develop a strategy to include and promote the use of Irish Sign Language in the authorities work where possible” • “We demand of central government adequate funding for all local authorities to meet need as demanded for Housing Adaptation Grants and to eliminate current waiting lists” • “All local authorities would employ Autism awareness training with staff and work towards developing local autism empowerment strategies” • “All local authorities would promote and support the employment of persons with disabilities and reach and ideally surpass the statutory targets in place. Disability experts should also be in place within Education Training Boards to assist students towards further education and/or employment” Labour https://www.labour.ie/download/pdf//labour_local_manifesto_2019_web. pdf In their manifesto they say: • “Advocate for mandatory disability equality training for all local council staff, to include understanding of autism, mental health issues and learning difficulties, for example to simplify