News and Events

A launch event for the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 took place on Wednesday 3 September at Dublin's Mansion House. There was significant involvement from the disabled community and their representative organisations.

This included disabled volunteers who welcomed guests, alongside students from Together Academy (which provides young adults with Down syndrome with training and employment opportunities) who served refreshments. Ms Lianne Quigley of the Irish Deaf Society and Mr Joseph McGrath of the National Platform of Self Advocates both spoke at the event, which was opened by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Tánaiste Simon Harris; Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley; Minister of State for Disability Hildegarde Naughton; and Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney also spoke at the launch.

The event closed with a musical performance by The Bass Brothers, a young rock band from Portlaoise, including 18-year-old lead singer Tony McInerney who is a vision-impaired Traveller.

Links to the speeches delivered by Minister Foley and Minister Naughton, together with a full press release, can be found below:

• Speech by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley at the launch
• Speech by Minister of State for Disability Hildegarde Naughton at the launch
• Press release

As part of the development of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, it was important for us to collaborate with disabled people on the creation of a public information campaign for the Strategy.

In August, we brought them together to work on the production and filming of the campaign. We also asked them what the Strategy meant to them - here's what they had to say.