By law, we can appoint Advisory Committees to assist and advise us on certain parts of our work.
Through these committees, we establish and maintain effective co-operation with representatives of relevant bodies and civil society.
We can set up advisory committees, as we see fit, to assist and advise us on matters relating to our functions.
Currently, we have a Disability Advisory Committee and a Worker and Employer Advisory Committee.
Disability Advisory Committee
In 2018, after the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified, we formed a Disability Advisory Committee (DAC).
The DAC is an internal committee that provides advice to IHREC.
It was established to ensure the direct participation of disabled people, and the organisations representing them, in monitoring how the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is implemented in Ireland.
The DAC is one way that IHREC ensures that disabled people’s voices remain central to IHREC’s role as the Independent Monitoring Mechanism – and that IHREC is informed by people with lived experience of disability.
What does the DAC do?
The DAC advises and informs IHREC’s work and priorities on disabled people in Ireland. In doing so, it contributes to protecting, promoting and monitoring human rights and equality protection in Ireland.
- Matters related to the protection of disabled people (such as how we monitor the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice relating to disabled people)
- How to effectively carry out our monitoring responsibilities under Article 33 of the UNCRPD
Frequently asked questions
Members of the DAC:
- Work on a variety of disability rights issues in line with its annual work plan
- Participate in discussions about law, policy, research, and data in Ireland
- Help inform and guide IHREC’s positions and ways of working
In practice, this means members of the DAC:
- Participate in and contribute to an annual work-planning process
- Engage with issues papers, background material and other documents before DAC meetings
- Attend six DAC meetings each year (where members engage and share their insights from their expertise and experience)
Members of the DAC are members of IHREC’s internal advisory committee. They are not Members of the Commission or staff of IHREC.
The members of the DAC do not:
- Take responsibility for IHREC’s actions or lack of action
- Take on external engagements, or speak publicly, on behalf of IHREC
The DAC does not have the power to:
- Make decisions on IHREC’s behalf
- Directly engage with key stakeholders (in DAC’s or IHREC’s capacity)
- Speak publicly on behalf of IHREC
The DAC is not part of the Convention’s Independent Monitoring Mechanism. IHREC is the Independent Monitoring Mechanism and the DAC is an advisory group. It advises IHREC by contributing knowledge, experience and wisdom.
IHREC’s work is decided independently by the Commission Members.
IHREC’s work is guided by input from the DAC. IHREC’s strategic and annual work priorities guide the DAC’s work plan, and the DAC contributes to IHREC’s strategic planning process.
Worker and Employer Advisory Committee
The Worker and Employer Advisory Committee (WEAC) was established in 2017.
What does the WEAC do?
The WEAC advises the Commission on employment and workplace equality and human rights issues. Specifically, it advises on work being carried out to deliver on the strategic priorities set out in the Commission’s Strategy Statement 2025 – 2027. The committee also engages with stakeholders outside of its membership to inform its work and that of the Commission.
Who are the members of the WEAC?
The WEAC has 15 members. The Committee’s Chair and Vice-Chair are members of the Commission. It is composed of representatives of ICTU and Ibec, and representatives of trade unions and employers nominated by them. They each bring together a range of skills and expertise to support the implementation of Commission’s priorities set out in its Strategy Statement 2025– 2027.
The Chief Commissioner and two other members of the Commission also take part. Meetings are also attending by the Chief Commissioner, the Director and relevant staff.
The members are:
- Jim Clarken (Chair), Member of the Commission
- Professor Kathleen Lynch (Vice-Chair), Member of the Commission
- Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner
- Eoin Ronayne, Member of the Commission
- Dr. Salome Mbugua, Member of the Commission
- David Joyce, ICTU
- Deirdre O’Connor, INTO
- Ethel Buckley, SIPTU
- Katie Morgan, Forsa
- Seamus Dooley, NUJ
- Dr Kara McGann, Ibec
- Harry Wall, Ibec
- Aisling Campbell, Accenture
- Vivienne Kavanagh, Dublin Bus
- Jonathan McDade, Small Firms Association