Today, International Human Rights Day, the offices of the Human Rights Commission were officially opened by An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern. Click here to view the Taoiseachs speech at the opening (HTML article).
Senior politicians, civil servants, the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the British Ambassador and the Garda Commissioner, members of statutory and non-governmental bodies, the media as well as representatives of the judiciary and of religious communities gathered in the Jervis Street premises in central Dublin for the opening of the premises and the launch of the Commission’s new website.
Addressing the large attendance, An Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern stated "It was exactly five years ago on this date in 1998 that I said we would establish a Human Rights Commission in this State, which would be a model of its kind, a national Human Rights institution which would set, rather than follow, standards of best international practice in this field. Since its first interim inaugural meeting took place on 6 March, 2001, it has already produced an impressive volume of work and has significant achievements to its credit. I look forward to the Commission developing its full potential in line with our original vision and expectation for the good of all persons on this island."
In responding to Mr. Ahern’s address, the President of the Commission, Dr. Maurice Manning, noted that it was particularly appropriate that An Taoiseach should conduct the official opening of the Commission’s premises given the Commission’s genesis in the Good Friday Agreement of which Mr. Ahern was a major architect.
"The spirit behind the drafting of our founding legislation was generous. However, there are aspects of that legislation which need to be changed" stated Dr. Manning. He then reiterated some of the changes which the Commission has requested of the Government when it submitted its two-year review last July.
The termination of the linkage to the Department of Justice in order to ensure the full independence and the perception of full independence of the Commission from all government departments. Similar to the Office of the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Commission should be directly accountable to the Oireachtas;
A strengthening of the Joint Committee currently composed of representatives of the Human Rights Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, by giving it a formal status distinct from the two Commissions;
Greater use by all Ministers of Government of their mandate to refer legislation proposals to the Commission for its views on implications for the protection of human rights. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the only Minister who has made extensive use of the Commission’s resources in this regard.
The speech delivered by Dr. Maurice Manning, President of the Human Rights Commission may be viewed by clicking here. (HTML article).
A spokesperson is available for interview or comment.
Contact Mary Ruddy, Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer.
Tel. 01 8589 601
Mobile: 087 6407765
E-mail: info@ihrc.ie
Address for Commission’s website: http://www.ihrc.ie