The Centre for Disability Law and Policy (NUI Galway) and Amnesty International (Ireland) held a seminar today on getting legal capacity law right. The seminar can be viewed here. The seminar heard from Oliver Lewis from MDAC who spoke about the CRPD in international Best Practice on legal capacity law. Christine Gordon who spoke about the lessons from British Columbia on supported decision-making. Professor Gerard Quinn spoke about the challenges in realising supported decision-making. The seminar was chaired by Colm O’Gorman the Executive Director, Amnesty International (Ireland) and was addressed by Kathleen Lynch the Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People. One of the really interesting aspects of the seminar was the contribution from the “experts through experience” who spoke of their perspectives on legal capacity when decision-making is called into question. Mary Farrell spoke about her experience in terms of her son who was made a Ward of Court following a High Court Award of damages for an acquired brain injury. Paul Alford spoke about his experience of moving from an institutional setting to living independently in the community and making his own decisions about how he lived his life. Bill Lloyd an advocate for older persons spoke about the deficiencies of Irish law in respecting the decision-making of one of his clients who was diagnosed with dementia. Jim Walsh shared his experience and perspectives on decision-making and persons seen as having a mental health problem.
British Columbia
Getting it Right: Capacity Legislation and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
Amnesty International and the Centre for Disability Law & Policy (NUI Galway) will run a seminar entitled “Getting it Right: Capacity Legislation and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities” on 30 November 2011 from 9am – 1pm at the Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2. This seminar will explore how Irish legislation can reflect the changes Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Article 12 of the CRPD requires a fundamental change in thinking about legal capacity and repeal of laws that restricts or denies legal capacity. Person sharing their personal experiences of having their legal capacity called into question will address the conference. The seminar will also be addressed by leading international legal experts Christine Gordon (speaking about the British Columbia model) and Oliver Lewis (MDAC). This seminar is timely as the Government moves towards the publication of a bill to replace the outdated Ward of Court System. For more information see here.