Debate contribution: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Debate contribution by Mr Maurice Bradley on .
- MLA
- Mr Maurice Bradley
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 25 November 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4675340
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank everybody who took part in this informative debate this evening. I value the opportunity for all in society to be the best that they can be in education, sport, employment and all other aspects of life in Northern Ireland. As my party colleagues mentioned, the Democratic Unionist Party is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can live full and active lives. We are a pro-life party and will always stand up for the right to life, from beginning to end. Our support for people with disabilities is demonstrated by our actions. Members heard the Minister commit to providing a disability strategy and ensuring that members of the deaf community have the same rights and opportunities as those in the hearing community. The Minister also said that he plans to introduce a sign language Bill to the Assembly, which was a commitment in our manifesto. The Democratic Unionist Party has championed and delivered on more accessible play facilities for children and young people with disabilities across Northern Ireland's councils and supported better changing facilities for all with disabilities. In the other House, our MPs have been a committed voice for people with disabilities. They co-signed the Down Syndrome Act 2022, which was the first legislation in the world to recognise people with Down syndrome as a specific minority group. Our MPs will vote against the assisted dying legislation on Friday. We want to see a society that fully values those with disabilities. Education Minister, Paul Givan, has made clear his commitment to supporting children with special educational needs, including those with disabilities. In April 2024, the Minister announced investment in the SEN capital programme, and over £51 million of capital funding has been invested through that this year. As a party, we are in the business of delivery, and we will continue to deliver for those who are living with a disability. I will point out some of the issues that were raised. Danny Donnelly called for parity with the UK and a single equality Bill, which could lead to far-reaching and meaningful outcomes for those with disabilities. Brian Kingston highlighted the fact that one in five people has a disability of some form and called for the Executive to form a disability strategy group to ensure that the UNCRPD requirements are implemented. Mr O'Toole said that he would prefer to be debating disability legislation. Robbie Butler agreed with that sentiment, as do I. The most important thing that we can do here is debate legislation. The most important work that we have to do here is in the Committees, yet Mondays and Tuesdays are taken up with motions. I am not saying that they are not valuable — they are — but we could find a way to make better use of our efforts.
Colm Gildernew said that people with disabilities struggle with employment opportunities, and he highlighted our out-of-date laws to deal with direct and indirect disability discrimination. Emma Sheerin called for the implementation of the UNCRPD and highlighted a lack of opportunities, including access to benefits and to financial and practical help. Diane Dodds supported our amendment and argued for support for people with a disability from the womb to their final breath. She argued against abortion on the grounds of physical impairment and cited articles 4, 5 and 8 of the UNCRPD on protecting the rights of the mother and child. She also highlighted the right-to-die legislation that is to be debated in Westminster this week. Kellie Armstrong and Paula Bradshaw said that, for the Alliance Party, the position on such issues is a matter of conscience as opposed to a party stance. They also said that the House has failed to implement the UNCRPD recommendations. Sinéad McLaughlin said that too many barriers still exist at all levels for those with a disability and highlighted the fact that they receive lower wages than able-bodied people in the same form of employment. Timothy Gaston acknowledged the fact that 25% of people in Northern Ireland have a disability and mentioned the diversity of disabilities across society. He referred to the assisted suicide Bill, which will test society in general. I commend the DUP's amendment to the House and hope that we can all support it.
716 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not qualifying”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.23 (qualifying needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not qualifying).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.70).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.88).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-qualifying threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.14 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.03 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.03 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.08 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.11 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.70 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.23 | At or below not-qualifying threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.88 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.02 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.10 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 1.00 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:40 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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