Disability Act & the UNCRPD

Review of the compliance of the Disability Act 2005 with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Researchers: Professor Eilionóir Flynn, Dr Clíona de Bhailís and Dr János Fiala-Butora 

Commissioned by: The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission 

About the Project 

The Disability Act 2005 places a number of obligations on Government Departments, and public bodies in Ireland regarding assessment of need, accessibility and services for people with disabilities. In the Programme for Government 2025, the Government of Ireland commits to “reform the Disability Act 2005 in consultation with stakeholders.” This research aims to assess how the  Disability Act 2005 complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In doing so the project explores the States obligations under specific articles of the UNCRPD, alternative approaches to a Disability Act with a focus on legislation in Portugal, Iceland and Kenya, and options for reform. The research was commissioned by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission as part of their remit as Ireland’s National Human Rights Institution, National Equality Body and the Independent Monitoring Mechanism for Ireland under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCPRD).