The 11 have been appointed by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. They are: Gary Allen, Bernie Bradley, Jacqui Browne, Adrian Carroll, John Bosco Conama, Shelly Gaynor, Eliona Gjecaj, Brian Hayes, Rosaleen McDonagh, Kieran Murphy and Vivian Rath.
Cognitive disabilities
Adrian Carroll is a law graduate with autism spectrum condition. He has recently completed an LLM at NUI Galway with a thesis on how the UNCRPD and international policy on assistive technology can help bridge the gap between higher education and employment for people with cognitive disabilities.
Eliona Gjecaj (pictured above) has a first-class LLM in comparative disability law and policy from NUI Galway. She has been recognised for her disability activism, achievements and volunteering with disability NGOs.
Inspector
Kieran Murphy lectures in law for the Diploma in Disability Studies at University College Cork. From 2013 to 2018, Kieran was an inspector of disability services with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
He is a registered nurse in intellectual disability, and his qualifications include law, quality in healthcare and a master’s degree in social policy.
The UNCRPD was ratified in 2018 more than a decade after being signed by Ireland, and is now in force. Ireland is expected to produce its first report on implementation of the Convention by next year.
Article 33 requires an independent mechanism to monitor its implementation.
The appointments were made following an open competition.