The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has described Government's decision to accede to the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities as "a landmark day".
IHREC and organisations representing disabled peoples have been calling on the State to ratify the Optional Protocol for some time.
It will provide a pathway for people with disabilities to vindicate their rights, by issuing complaints directly to the UN.
In a statement IHREC said that while the announcement was "an important step" towards the State fulfilling its obligations protecting the rights of disabled people, much remained to be done regarding the full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.
It said these included the review and amendment of legislative frameworks, including Equality Acts, EPSEN Acts, the Mental Health Act, and to bring forward legislation that adequately safeguarded individuals at risk or who are deprived of their liberty.
Earlier Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman, and Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte, jointly confirmed that the Government would accede to the Optional Protocol to the UNCRPD.
In 2018, Ireland ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which aims to ensure people with disabilities are treated fairly and are fully included in society.
The Optional Protocol supplements the convention by establishing additional procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation of the convention.
While the State's implementation of the UNCRPD is already subject to periodic review by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, accession to the Optional Protocol means that people with disabilities will have their rights better upheld by strengthened accountability measures.
Read more: Protocol decision a significant announcement for those with disabilities
The Taoiseach described it as an important day for Ireland, in particular, for people with a disability.
"Ratification of the Optional Protocol will mean that people with a disability will have their rights more stringently upheld by strengthened accountability measures. I know this is an important day for the thousands of people who have campaigned for this to happen."
Minister O'Gorman said he was delighted that the work of an interdepartmental group he established earlier this year to drive progress on the issue had led to today's decision.
"It emphasises the value that is placed on ensuring that we are accountable in upholding the rights of persons with disabilities," he said.
Minister Rabbitte paid tribute to "the tireless efforts" of advocates, disabled persons' organisations and individuals.
"Their voices have been instrumental in driving this progress, and their contributions will continue to shape our policies and practices," she said.
The Tánaiste, who said that today marked "an important and necessary step", will now sign an instrument of accession on behalf of the Government, which will be deposited with the Secretary-General of the UN.
The protocol will enter into force in Ireland 30 days later.
