Mr Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs and Defence, Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Department of Defence.
CC: Norma Foley T.D, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality
Emer Higgins T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Re: Disability Rights conditionality in the Multiannual Financial Framework
Dear Minister Byrne,
I am writing to you in relation to disability rights conditionality in the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) noting IHREC’s role as the national human rights institution and equality body with a statutory function as the Independent Monitoring Mechanism for the UNCRPD.
It has been brought to my attention that the European Commission’s current proposal for the 2028 – 2034 MFF removes a horizontal condition requiring compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) across all funded operations and a thematic condition requiring all Member States to support strategies for transitioning from institutional to community-based care.
These proposals are of grave concern as they are a regressive step in the protection of disability rights across the EU. Ireland has a high level of credibility on disability rights, given the demonstrated commitment of the state in this area. Ireland has also clearly set out that values are at the heart of its EU Presidency agenda.
I respectfully encourage you to work with other relevant Ministers, including Minister Foley and Minister Higgins, to work for the reinstatement of these conditions in the MFF.
I am attaching a briefing which we received from Validity Foundation for further information.
Yours sincerely,
Liam Herrick
Chief Commissioner