Ireland has been rated a "moderately inclusive" country which could do far more to help people with disabilities, a new report on disability in Europe claims.
In the first report of its kind, the International Disability Rights Monitor study details the level of inclusiveness in 14 European countries.
Ireland ranks seventh overall. While it performed well in legal protection and accessibility of services, it performed less well in education and employment.
Finland came top, followed by Greece, Spain and the UK. The least inclusive included Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey.
While welcoming progress made in recent years, Mary Keogh, the group's international co-ordinator, said a country as wealthy as Ireland should aspire to being in the top tier.
This could be achieved by ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and addressing the high unemployment rates among disabled people, Ms Keogh said.
Just over 37 per cent of people of working age with disabilities are employed, compared with 64 per cent of the total population.
Launching the report, disability campaigner and MEP Kathy Sinnott said it showed how much more could be done if the Government acknowledged the rights people with disabilities have.
