The position of people with mental handicaps who are detained in Irish psychiatric hospitals is to be raised in Geneva today with the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
In 1999 the committee issued a report criticising the absence of legislation dealing with the rights of the mentally handicapped in Ireland, "especially in regard to their detention in psychiatric clinics" .
The committee's remarks followed a submission from St Joseph's Association for the Mentally Handicapped, which includes parents of handicapped people in St Ita's Hospital, Portrane.
"St Joseph's Association will make a presentation detailing the lack of progress in providing appropriate accommodation and services for people with an intellectual disability in the psychiatric hospitals," said Ms Annie Ryan, a member of the delegation.
The delegation is accompanied by Ms Deirdre Carroll, executive secretary of the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland.