The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform - Mr. Michael Mc Dowell made the following response to CIL's demands:

"My department has responsibility fro disability equality policy and legislation development, and in that context has in the last number of years, in co-operation with the European Commission, organised the Irish National Information Day on Disability. Each year, a particular theme is chosen fro the day. Themes to date have included:

• “Progress Through Partnership” (24 November, 1997)

• “Progress Through Employment” (30 November, 1998)

• “Building a Future Together” (29 November, 1999) and

• “Information Technology – Access fro All” (27 November, 2000). This took place simultaneously in 3 locations – Dublin, Sligo and Ennis.

• “Design fro All” – (22 October, 2001)

• “Do they take sugar? – a television programme(aired on Network 2 on 3 December, 2002 at 9.00 p.m.).

This year, my Department chose to focus the National Information Day on the public sector. Over 200,000 brochures were distributed to public sector employees to inform and raise awareness of disability issues.

As this year is the designated European Year of People with disabilities, Ireland and our EU partners are working together to create awareness about disability issues among the population at large and, more importantly, to promote awareness of the right of people with disabilities to equal opportunities and protection against discrimination. My department designated the National Disability Authority (NDA) as the national co-ordinating body. The NDA is chairing the national co-ordinating committee that is co-ordinating events for the year in Ireland. The members of the committee represent disability organisations, the Social Partners, Government Departments and the media. My department is represented on the committee that is focusing on four particular themes for the year.

• Awareness Raising,

• Youth and Disability,

• Rights, Partnership and Responsibilities, and • Employment

The committee is supporting a wide-ranging programme of projects nationwide to highlight the aims of the year.

My department funded other initiatives and events to publicise the year including the “Youth – Beyond Disability” seminars, organised by people with disabilities in Ireland; a calendar (in conjunction with PwDI); and the “Design fro All” exhibition in partnership with the Office of Public works.

While my Department has been active in promoting disability awareness, it should be noted that there are other State organisations that are also actively involved in ensuring that this issue is active in the public consciousness. The Equality authority, Comhairle and other Government Departments are involved in promoting this issue.

The government remains committed to bringing forward a Disability Bill which will underpin the principle of mainstreaming and provide for positive action measures to remove barriers to equal participation fro people with disabilities.

Given the complex and crosscutting issues involved, the process of overseeing the preparation of the Disability Bill has been referred to a cabinet committee. As stated in the agreed programme fro Government the Bill will include for rights of assessment, appeals, provision and enforcement. However rending completion of the Cabinet Committee and Government deliberations, it will not be appropriate to comment on the likely content of the bill. The intention is that the Bill will be ready fro publication before the Dail resumes after the Christmas recess.

As the other issue raised in your submission are primarily a matter for the Departments with responsibility fro service provision generally, I trust that you have also been in contact with them and that they will revert in due course to them."

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The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform - Mr. Michael Mc Dowell made the following response to CIL's demands:

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