December 2008

PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY WILL SUFFER AS A RESULT OF CROWLEY RESIGNATION – INCLUSION IRELAND

 

Inclusion Ireland has serious concerns that the departure of the Equality Authority’s chief executive Niall Crowley, as well as cuts to the Authority and it’s decentralisation to Roscrea, will diminish the Authority’s ability to champion the rights of people with a disability.

 

Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll said Mr. Crowley’s commitment to promoting equality and highlighting discrimination against people with an intellectual disability was significant, and it is very regrettable that he felt it necessary to resign.

 

“Inclusion Ireland is very concerned that issues concerning the rights of people with a disability may be sidelined in light of cuts to the Equality Authority. In April 2008, David Begg of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) announced that ICTU had requested that the Equality Authority investigate sheltered workshops, where people with an intellectual disability are doing real work, that is productive and profit-making, but are not being paid the minimum wage and do not have employment rights

 

“Given that the Equality Authority will now face cuts of 43%, there are substantial doubts as to whether the Equality Authority will be able to continue fighting against such blatant acts of inequality.

 

 “The bottom line is that people with a disability and others who regularly face discrimination and inequality will suffer as a result of these cuts.”

 

Inclusion Ireland is a member of the Equality and Rights Alliance, www.eracampaign.org

 

ENDS

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