Disability rights activists have welcomed a decision by the Government to scrap a proposal to reform disability payments.
A Department of Social Protection Green Paper had suggested reforming the structure of long-term disability payments by establishing a three-tiered system.
Among the proposals that caused significant concern was the suggestion that a person's capacity to work would be medically assessed by people employed by the department.
Protests were held in recent months by disabled activists who were supported by elected representatives, at which they voiced their anger calling for the Green Paper to be scrapped.
The Department of Social Protection has confirmed that as a result of the feedback received during the consultation, the minister has decided not to proceed further with the process.
In a statement it said responses to the paper would be used to inform "the broader review of disability supports and services initiated by the Taoiseach under the auspices of the new Cabinet committee on disability matters".
Confirming that the proposals would not be implemented, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said she had listened to the significant concerns.
"Our new Taoiseach, Simon Harris has placed a major focus on improving supports for people with disabilities by giving a voice to special education at the Cabinet table in Minister [Hildegarde] Naughton and also with the establishement of a special Cabinet Committee on Disability," she said.
Ms Humphreys added that as a Government, a fresh look was needed to "best support people with disabilities and I believe this will be best done on a whole-of-Government basis through the new Cabinet Committee".
Independent Senator Tom Clonan, who attended the protests and initiated a debate against the Green Paper in the Seanad before Christmas, welcomed the decision which he said was "the right one".
He expressed relief that the "absolutely reprehensible proposal" had been scrapped.
"Now we need to make the disability allowance a non means tested universal payment for disabled citizens' in this country", he said.
Mr Clonan said he looked forward to working with Taoiseach Simon Harris.
Access for all Ireland also welcomed the decision and called on the Government to work with disabled activists and to hear their voices.
Disable artists and academics welcome scrapping of the Green Paper
Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics (DADA) in Ireland have welcomed news that the Green Paper has been scrapped.
Artist Emilie Conway, who is currently performing at an integrated disabled and non-disabled festival in Copenhagen, said she would be announcing the news at her gig tonight.
She said the proposal of putting people through a bio psychosocial functioning model of testing was completely dehumanising, degrading and unsafe.
"The invasion into our privacy and selfhood that it would have entailed was unthinkable and inhumane in this day in age," Ms Conway said.
The DADA spokesperson said that the fact disabled people were going to be judged on that basis was also unthinkable and inhumane.
Ms Conway added that she did not know how it would have worked for artists.
"It takes time to develop your craft. So, assuming that eligibility of supports would have started at the age of 18, how would they have been able tell the potential of someone becoming an artist and put the right supports there," she questioned.
Ms Conway also said the Green Paper was geared towards putting people through the PAYE system, which in turn raised questions over how it would work for disabled people like artists or academic who are self-employed.
"I don't know how it would have allowed people to realise their potential, it seemed to be working opposite to that," she said.
Ms Conway noted that disabled people were not consulted in the creation of the Green Paper, which is against United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
However, she acknowledged that the fact that disabled people have now been heard and the paper scrapped, is in accordance with the UNCRPD.
Community members 'relieved'
The Scrap the Green Paper Coalition, which was formed in 2023, said its community members were relieved.
Co-founder of the coalition Dr Margaret Kennedy pointed out that disabled people "can spot a violation of human rights a mile off".
She said the group was "ready and waiting" for a discussion with Mr Harris's Government.
Neuro Pride Ireland described the decision as proof that the disabled community could not to be ignored.
"This is a huge step forward for the community. The last win of this magnitude was PA hours in the early 90s. But rest assured we will not await another 30 years before our next big win.", according to Neuro Pride Ireland Co-Ordinator Cír Doyle.
Board Secretary of Disabled Women Ireland, Gillian Kearns, said the support shown by legislators and wider society to the disabled community on the issue had been invaluable, and that it signaled "a new desire to listen to the voices of disabled people" on decisions impacting them.
