Opposition disappointment at Sinnott ruling

The main Opposition parties have expressed disappointment at today’s Supreme Court ruling in the Sinnott case.

Fine Gael described the decision as a "shallow and shameful victory" for the Government; the Labour Party said it was "deeply disappointing".

The ruling highlights the "extraordinary difficulty that people with disabilities in Ireland have in accessing their human rights", according to Fine Gael spokeswoman on equality and family affairs Ms Frances Fitzgerald.

"The delay by the Government in introducing a comprehensive disability bill adds further to this trauma," she said.

Ms Fitzgerald claimed the European Convention on Human Rights must be incorporated fully into Irish law for the rights of people with disabilities to be "enhanced and protected" within the State.

Labour spokeswoman oneducation Ms Roisín Shorthall TD said she was "deeply disappointed" by the decision.

"The end result is thatwhiletheletterofthelaw may have prevailed, Jamie Sinnott and his familyhavebeeneffectivelyabandonedby the State."

Ms Shorthall said the Labour Party had opposed the decision by the Government to appeal the original High Court ruling in this case, and that the State, through the Department of Education,had a moral obligation to provide education meeting the needs ofdisabled people, whatever their age.

"TheSupremeCourtjudgment cannotbetreated as a legal loopholewherebytheStatecanescape itsmoral obligation to educate its citizens," she said.

"Ultimately I believe that we must amend our constitution so that it clearly and unambiguouslyplacesanobligationontheState to vindicate the rights of people with a disability."