20 October 2011, 1:30PM to 20 October 2011, 5:00PM
Titanium Suite, Radisson Blu Hotel, Gasworks, Cromac Place, Ormeau Road, Belfast
As part of the UK wide Hardest Hit Campaign which will take place w/c 17 October, Disability Action will lead a group of Northern Ireland based disability organisations in hosting a debate on the effects of welfare reform.
In May 2011 the Disability Alliance and Disability Benefits Consortium in the UK organised a March and lobby in London bringing together disabled people, their families and other campaign supporters together with one clear voice.
A number of disabled people from Northern Ireland attended the event in London and to help reinforce the campaign here, Disability Action and RNIB, in conjunction with a range of disability and carers organisations are organising a series of activities to coincide with other regional Hardest Hit events taking part across the UK.
On the 20 October 2011 a debate will be held to give people with disabilities and their supporters a chance to raise issues directly with political representatives in relation to the Welfare Reform Bill.
On the 21 October disabled people from across Northern Ireland will be visiting MP’s surgeries or sending this briefing paper so that politicians from here are aware of the issues for disabled people in relation to the Welfare Reform Bill.
>>Read Disability Action's Hardest Hit Briefing Paper (Word Document)
>>For more information visit The Hardest Hit website
Debate: Welfare Reform-Supporting the Most Vulnerable?
Date: Thursday 20 October 2011
Time: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Venue: Titanium Suite, Radisson Blu Hotel, Gasworks, Cromac Place, Ormeau Road, Belfast
Lunch will be provided on arrival.
Disability Action will also be using this event to host their AGM which will continue until 5pm.
Aims
The aims of the debate are:
- To increase awareness of the concerns of people with disabilities living in Northern Ireland;
- To highlight the strength of opposition to the Government's unfair cuts agenda; and
- To persuade MPs to voice these concerns in Parliament.
Event Format
Tommy O’Reilly, Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency will address the audience and the panel on the proposed plan for welfare reform.
The panel will consist of: Joanne Sansome, REAL Network; Ian Paisley Junior (MP), Member of the Commitee for Welfare Reform Bill; and Mickey Brady (MLA), Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Social Development; and Eileen Evason, Emeritus Professor in Social Administration(University of Ulster).
For further information please contact:
Ceara McCurdy
Communications and Campaigns Officer
Disability Action's Centre on Human Rights for People with Disabilities
Portside Business Park
189 Airport Road West
Belfast
BT3 9ED
Telephone: 028 9029 7880
Textphone: 028 9029 7882
Fax: 028 9029 7881
Email: cearamccurdy@disabilityaction.org
