Latest news with #PersonsWithDisabilities
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Foreign Affairs distances itself from Senator Martin Conway's speech in Finland
The Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that Senator Martin Conway, who has been the subject of a number of recent controversies, was not representing the State when he spoke at a recent political event in Finland. Mr Conway is subject to a Fine Gael disciplinary process following his arrest in January for being 'intoxicated' on O'Connell St in Dublin. In Helsinki last week he addressed the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)'s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) advisory panel on the political participation of persons with disabilities. The OSCE described the annual event as a 'chance to expand research, network with colleagues, and disseminate knowledge about the political participation of people with disabilities'. Mr Conway, who is visually impaired, was first appointed to the panel in 2021. More work needs to be done for inclusion & leadership of #PersonsWithDisabilities A great honor to provide opening remarks with Chair Martin Conway & @osce_odihr at the Advisory Panel meeting, in the spirit of #Helsinki+50 conference @IrishEmbFinland @Ulkoministerio @OSCE25FI — Katja Pehrman (@PehrmanKatja) July 30, 2025 In a post on social media platform X, Katja Pehrman, Finland's ambassador for human rights, shared a picture of herself and Mr Conway at the event. 'More work needs to be done for inclusion and leadership of Persons With Disabilities,' she said. 'A great honor [sic] to provide opening remarks with Chair Martin Conway.' She tagged the Irish Embassy in Finland in her post. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said Mr Conway was not representing Ireland at the event. 'Members of the ODIHR Advisory Panel on the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities serve in their personal capacities as experts and do not represent any organisation or participating State,' they said. As such, this Department has no role in sanctioning participation or travel of members of the Advisory Panel. A spokesperson for Fine Gael stated that Mr Conway is 'no longer a member of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party'. When asked about the ongoing disciplinary procedure, they referred to a previous statement from February confirming it had commenced. The Oireachtas did not pay for the trip. Senator Conway arrested in January Mr Conway was arrested on O'Connell St in Dublin in the early hours of January 22 'for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol'. He was released without charge. He resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party just days after he was reappointed to the Seanad administrative panel for a fourth term. He was further accused of alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a female Oireachtas staff member working for Fine Gael. Mr Conway returned to Leinster House in early July. Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly has repeatedly called for Fine Gael to address the scandal, amid reports that a €10,000 donation was made following alleged inappropriate behaviour. She told the Irish Examiner that the party and Mr Conway should be able to comment further now he is back at work. Ms O'Reilly said: There are questions for Fine Gael to answer in this regard and lots of questions left unanswered. 'He is still listed on the Oireachtas website as a Fine Gael member, so they will need to answer for him as a member. "I would definitely have concerns. I would definitely want to hear from him. 'Fine Gael really needs to settle all of these questions, given that the man is now back in work.' Mr Conway did not respond to phone calls or text messages.
South China Morning Post
01-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Jockey Club to provide ‘high-quality technical support' at National Games
Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges at the signing ceremony marking the club's additional support for the National Games. Photo: HKJC This help is in addition to the HK$450 million the club will provide to the city to support its co-hosting of the Games in November The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced on Tuesday that it would provide 'high-quality technical support' to the tune of 50 million yuan (US$6.9 million) for the equestrian events at the National Games later this year. This help would be in addition to the HK$450 million (US$57.3 million) the club planned provide as the sole partner sponsor for the Hong Kong competition region. There would also be support for the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games in the Guangdong competition region. In a press release, the club said its contribution reflected 'its support for national sporting events and its commitment to promoting sports development in collaboration with mainland authorities'. The club said it would provide technical support to the equestrian events of the National Games in six areas: venue design, horse welfare, anti-doping measures, stable management, event service and support, and publicity and community engagement. The club would also deploy an expert team to provide support and equipment for the events, with the aim of helping to ensure the events are conducted to a high standard. In addition, HKJC would support official activities, volunteer services and promotional work in the Guangdong Competition Region. To mark the occasion, a signing ceremony was held at the club's Sha Tin Clubhouse. Among those attending were Cui Jian, the director general of the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, Li Shuguang, the deputy director general of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HK SAR, and Yeung Tak-keung, head of the National Games Coordination Office in Hong Kong. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Jockey Club's CEO, said the club had long been a staunch supporter of the nation's major sports events, including the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the recent 19th Hangzhou Asian Games. He said the club hoped its participation would 'not only contribute to the Games' success but also further develop equestrian sport at the national level', especially within the Greater Bay Area. Cui said the club's support, including for volunteer services and promotional campaigns in the Guangdong Competition Region, had helped advance the vision of a 'green, inclusive, open and clean' National Games. He added that Guangdong and Hong Kong had always stood 'together with one heart' and he encouraged continued collaboration. The National Games, held once every four years, is the nation's largest multi-sports event. This year will be the first time Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau will be co-hosts. The National Games will be held from November 9 to November 21, with the equestrian events taking place in Shenzhen's Guangming District from November 10 to 19. The two other competitions will take place from December 8 to 15.
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Can't dilute issue or protect wrongdoers': Bombay HC orders probe into 2012 New Year's Eve ‘party' at Mankhurd children's home
Observing that the authorities cannot protect wrongdoers or keep an issue pending for a decade, the Bombay High Court on Monday ordered a probe into an alleged party hosted on New Year's Eve in 2012 at a home for mentally deficient children (MDC) in suburban Mumbai's Mankhurd, consisting of 265 inmates. The court ordered the Commissioner for Persons With Disabilities to initiate an inquiry into the alleged incident within six weeks and forward the findings to the Maharashtra government which shall take appropriate action against the errant people within three months. The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2014 by activist Sangeeta Punekar, which had highlighted the 'shocking state of affairs', citing news reports of an alleged party hosted by donors at the MDC homes. According to a news report, champagne was popped, cash was showered on bar dancers, and alcohol was served at the party on December 31, 2012. The institution is run by the Children's Aid Society, a 100 per cent aided NGO. The petitioner claimed that complaints were lodged by the MDC home authorities regarding the New Year's Eve party and a probe was conducted by a panel comprising the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chairman, Divisional Deputy Commissioner-Konkan, and an officer of the Women and Child Development Department. However, despite the inquiry, no action was taken against the concerned persons, the petitioner argued. After the lawyer representing the respondent authorities sought time to take instructions from officials and further respond to the plea, Chief Justice Aradhe orally remarked, 'The petition cannot be kept pending for 10 years. Effect of the incident cannot be diluted and you cannot be protecting wrong doers. What action have you taken in 11 years? You do not know. It has to be taken.' When the lawyer responded that the respondents will find out, the bench stated, 'We are allowing the petition. It took 11 years? You should be ashamed of your officers. And now you have the guts to say that will find out? So that we should continue the matter for another 25 years? Do you know the effect of keeping the petition pending?' It noted in the order, 'We are surprised to note that despite the inquiry being conducted in the alleged incident, till today no action has been taken against the delinquents. The counsel for the respondent was unable to point out that any action was taken against the delinquent. No useful purpose will be served by keeping the petition pending.' The bench ordered a probe followed by 'suitable action' by the state government and seeking its compliance report, disposed of the PIL. In April, while hearing a batch of pleas including that of Punekar, the high court had questioned the state government as to why all 94 MDC homes in Maharashtra were not operational. The court has, meanwhile, kept pending other pleas on the issue to be heard in due course.
Zawya
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Nigeria: Reps seek tax exemption for people living with disability
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Disability Matters, Hon. Bashiru Dawodu, on Tuesday called for a tax exemption for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs). Speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by Persons With Disabilities in Abuja, Hon. Dawodu also called for tax relief for companies employing persons with disabilities, as well as for manufacturers of equipment used by PWDs. While reiterating the Committee's support for the proposed tax reform bills being considered by the National Assembly, he noted that the Committee would present its position at the public hearing. He disclosed that the Committee would advocate for tax credits and waivers for companies manufacturing equipment used by PWDs. He also proposed that teachers involved in Special Education should be encouraged through scholarships, while a Disability Trust Fund should be established to support the interests of PWDs. Hon. Dawodu stated that the 2018 Disability Act, which has a five-year moratorium, is not being diligently implemented by government agencies and the private sector. He added that the House was working on amending the law to impose more stringent penalties. He disclosed that some provisions of the Act include ensuring easy access to public buildings, bus and rail terminals, as well as education and health facilities. The lawmaker noted that even after the creation of the Disability Commission, the Disability Act had yet to be domesticated in several states across the country, with only 22 states having done so. He urged states that have yet to domesticate the law to do so in the interest of persons with disabilities living in those states, while also lamenting the poor budgetary allocation to the Disability Commission. He argued that the allocation of about N2 billion to the Disability Commission reflects the government's inadequate commitment to the welfare of persons with disabilities, stating that the nation had fallen short of expectations. Hon. Dawodu emphasized the need for collaboration with NGOs and other organizations to advance the cause of PWDs. He stated that with over 35 million Nigerians living with disabilities, the country would function more effectively if the National Assembly took stronger action. In his remarks, the Director of the PWD's Potential Unhinged Project, Mr. Valentine Zion, said the MoU covers a nationwide medical access support initiative for persons with disabilities, aiming to provide assistance to PWDs in underserved areas. The MoU also includes talent discovery and development programs for PWDs within the creative industry, a reality TV show to showcase the potential and resilience of PWDs, and an inclusive musical concert. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( by Kehinde Akintola
