THE FIRST 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
for the period July 2001- December 2002

February 2004

Introduction

The Human Rights Commission is a direct result of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 which provided for the establishment of Human Rights Commissions in both Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland, and which was endorsed by popular referendum in both jurisdictions.  The Commission was established under the Human Rights Commission Act 2000 and the Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act 2001.  The Commission was formally established in July 2001 and had been meeting in shadow format from March 2001.

Under the Good Friday Agreement the Commissions are charged with promoting and protecting human rights in their respective jurisdictions and working together to improve the protection of human rights in the island of Ireland.

It has to be said at the outset that progress in setting up the Commission and making it fully operational has been much slower than could have been anticipated, and it is for that reason that this report combines coverage of the two reporting periods, July 2001/ December 2001 and January 2002/December 2002, in order to enable subsequent reports cover the relevant calendar year.  The report for the year 2003 will published in the near future.  

The delays in setting up the Commission were due to a number of factors.  There was first of all the controversy which required a second Human Rights Commission Act (Act of 2001) to increase the membership of the Commission from eight to fourteen.  There was the delay in appointing a Chief Executive who was not appointed until June 2002.  It was only with the appointment of the Chief Executive that staffing structures and the recruitment of staff could begin.  This proved to be a time consuming matter, due in part to the requirements of the legislation whereby all details concerning appointment levels, salaries and conditions of service had to be agreed with two Government Departments, Justice Equality and Law Reform, and the Department of Finance.

By December 2002, most of these difficulties were in the process of being resolved.  The recruitment process for staff had begun, though no new staff had been appointed by the end of this reporting period.  The Commission was not happy with a situation where though its independence is guaranteed under section 4(2) of the Human Rights Commission Act 2000 and where under Section 4 (4) of the same Act it ‘shall have all such powers that are necessary for or incidental to the performance of its functions’ it must nevertheless work within a context where all staffing decisions (not just about the numbers of staff but the remuneration and terms and conditions of each member of staff) are determined by the Department of Finance.  This inevitably led to delays which in the view of the Commission were unnecessary.  

In addition the decision to move to permanent premises, which had been expected to take place in late 2002, was delayed because of the absence of funding for the acquisition and fit-out of the premises.  The move had not taken place by the end of these reporting periods, though arrangements were at an advanced stage.

The Commission was hopeful that the estimate of required funding which it had submitted to the Government would be approved as a grant-in-aid and will allow the Commission do the job expected of it in its founding legislation.

*				*				*

In spite of these difficulties the period just passed has been one of significant achievement.  By the end of 2002 much work had been done towards the publication of the Commission’s strategic plan, Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in Irish Society: A Plan for 2003-2006.  The Plan describes the function of the Commission and the activities it intends to undertake to fulfil its mandate and sets out the key areas of work on which the Commission intends to focus over the next four years.  

The plan includes the mission statement of the Commission, its core values and its operational values.  It details its strategic approach and its criteria for selecting its key areas of work.  The Plan then elaborates on these key areas which it sees as falling within its remit, within the categories of civil and political rights, within economic, social and cultural rights and crosscutting issues such as racism, disability, gender, equality and human difference.

Clearly in the absence of adequate staff and resources the Commission has been limited in what it has been able to do.  It established a number of Committees and Advisory Groups to advance its work.  The work done by these committees is substantial and the principal elements are detailed hereunder.  With the recruitment of staff the Commission has commenced a review and rationalisation of its committee system.  A list of committees currently functioning can be found in section eight.

The Commission has given special priority to the establishment of a Joint Committee with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which was also set up as a result of the Good Friday Agreement.  The Joint Committee is specifically provided for in the Agreement ‘as a forum for consideration of human rights issues in the island of Ireland’.  This is a unique and innovative arrangement between human rights commissions in different jurisdictions but with common interests.  The two Commissions meet on a regular basis through the Joint Committee and have established a close working relationship.

In November 2002, the two Commissions co-hosted a Roundtable Conference with the Council of Europe and a meeting of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions in Belfast and Dublin.  In addition, the Commissions have worked together through the Joint Committee on areas of common interest, including racism, rights of migrant workers and emergency legislation. The Good Friday Agreement also provided that the Joint Committee should consider the possibility of a charter for the protection of fundamental rights in the island of Ireland and a pre-consultation document on the proposed Charter of Rights for discussion and comment.

International Links:

The establishment of the Commission was also part of a growing movement to set up national Human Rights Commissions or Institutions in the member states of the United Nations.  This movement has strongly been supported by successive UN High Commissioners for Human Rights and an International Co-ordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights has been established with the backing of the UN high Commissioner’s office.  The Commission has applied for membership of the International Co-ordinating Committee and had attended its meetings as an observer.  

1.	Main Activities of the Commission under the of the Human Rights Commission Act 2000

Keeping law and practice under review [Section 8(a)]
	
•	A public statement was issued on 21st February 2002 regarding: The Twenty-Fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy)Bill 2001.
•	A public statement was issued on 16th May 2002 expressing concern at the reported degree of force used by members of An Garda Síochána during a 'Reclaim the Streets' parade on 6th May 2002.
•	On 10th December 2002 the Commission published its submission on the National Action Plan Against Racism.
•	On 17th December 2002 the Commission published ‘A Proposal for a New Garda Complaints System’.

Consulting with national and international bodies [Section 8(c)]

•	The Commission was represented at a number of significant international events including: 
-	the UN World Conference on Racism in South Africa in 2001;
-	UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in April 2002; 
-	the 6th International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions in Copenhagen and Lund in April 2002; 
-	the UN Special Session on Children's Rights in New York in May 2002; and 
•	The Commission has met with a number of NGOs and statutory bodies.
•	The Commission co-sponsored with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Disability Authority a conference on a United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities in February 2002.
•	The Commission, along with the Equality Authority and the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, co-sponsored a Consultative Conference on the National Action Plan Against Racism in March 2002, organised by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
•	Commission members met with a delegation of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture when they made one of their periodic monitoring visits to Ireland in May 2002.
•	The Commission co-hosted a Conference with the Law Society of Ireland on the European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001 in October 2002.
•	The Commission co-hosted, together with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, a Roundtable Conference with the Council of Europe and a meeting of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions in Belfast and Dublin in November 2002.
•	The Commission contributed to meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities.
•	The Commission is a member of the Steering Group on the National Action Plan Against Racism and of the Joint Equality and Human Rights Forum.
•	The Commission has observer status at the International Co-ordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

Making recommendations to Government [Section 8(d)]

•	The Commission has published its observations on the National Action Plan Against Racism, which were submitted to the Steering Committee on a National Action Plan in September 2002.
•	The Commission presented a submission on the European Convention on Human Rights Bill, 2001 to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights in October 2001.  This submission was published in June 2002 and is available on the Commission's website.  The Commission appeared again before the Committee in December 2002 regarding the incorporation of the Convention into Irish law.
•	The Commission has recommended that the Government ratify the International Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families.
•	The Commission has recommended the repeal of Section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No 2)Act 2002.

Promoting awareness of human rights and undertaking research [Sections 8(e) and 8(g)]

•	An information booklet on the Commission has been produced.  The booklet is available on the Commission's website.

Participating in the Joint Committee [Section 8(i)]

•	Preliminary work was begun on preparing a pre-consultation paper on a Charter of Rights for the Island of Ireland.
•	The Joint Committee Sub-Committee on Racism has engaged in a process of consultation with statutory bodies in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland concerning its future work in this area.
•	The Joint Committee will publish a 'Users Guide' to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of relevance to the situation in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland shortly.
•	The Joint Committee has commenced a review of emergency legislation in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.   

2.  	Membership of the Commission

Dr. Maurice MANNING (President)

Prof. William BINCHY
Ms. Olive BRAIDEN
Mr. Martin COLLINS
Prof. Robert DALY 
Ms. Suzanne EGAN
Ms. Jane LIDDY
Mr. Michael FARRELL
Ms. Nuala KELLY
Ms. Clodach McGRORY
Prof. Fionnuala Ní AOLÁIN
Mr. Tom O’HIGGINS
Prof. Gerard QUINN
Mr.Mervyn TAYLOR
Dr.Katherine ZAPPONE

The members of the Commission were appointed in July 2001 for a five year term.

Judge Donal Barrington served as President of the Commission from July 2001 to July 2002.

Dr Maurice Manning was appointed President of the Commission in August 2002

* Short biographies of commissioners are included in Appendix I 

3.  	Terms of Reference of the Human Rights Commission

Section 2 of the Human Rights Commission Act 2000, contains a definition of the human rights which the Commission is mandated to protect and promote.  The definition is:

‘(a) 	The rights, liberties and freedoms conferred on, or guaranteed to, persons by the Constitution, and
	
(b) 	the rights, liberties or freedoms conferred on, or guaranteed to, persons by any agreement, treaty or convention to which the State is a party.’

Constitution

Articles 40 - 44 of the Constitution of Ireland set out the fundamental rights which are guaranteed to persons.  These rights have been elaborated upon by case law of the Irish courts.

International agreements

The relevant international agreements to which Ireland is a party are: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Ireland is also a party to the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

At European level, the relevant international agreements are: the European Convention on Human Rights, the Revised European Social Charter, the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

In its work, the Commission will also take account of developing national jurisprudence and international human rights standards.  Such standards and new jurisprudence may provide a source of additional human rights protection and/or provide protections for groups and individuals who may not receive adequate protection under existing legal standards

4.  	Powers and Functions of the Commission

The powers and functions of the Commission are set out in the Human Rights Commission Act 2000 and may be summarised as follows:

(i)	To keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of the law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights.

(ii)	To examine any legislative proposals referred to it by a Minster of the Government and report thereon.

(iii)	To consult with national or international human rights bodies or agencies.

(iv)	Either of its own volition or being requested to do so by the Government, to make such recommendations to the Government as it deems appropriate in relation to the measures which the Commission considers should be taken to strengthen, protect and uphold human rights in the State.

(v)	To promote understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights in the State.

(vi)	To conduct enquiries, either of its own volition or at the request of any other person.

(vii)	To prepare and publish reports on any research undertaken by it in relation to enquiries.

(viii)	To apply to the High Court or the Supreme Court for liberty to appear before either court as amicus curiae in proceedings before that court that involve or are concerned with the human rights of any person.

(ix)	To take whatever action is necessary to establish and participate in the Joint Committee of Representatives referred to the British Irish Agreement.

(x)	To provide assistance to persons in legal proceedings involving law or practice relating to the protection of human rights.

(xi)	To institute legal proceedings for the purpose of obtaining relief in respect of any matter concerning the human rights of any person or class of persons.

In its Strategic Plan for 2003 - 2006, Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in Irish Society, the Commission outlines the way in which it anticipates how these powers and functions will operate in practice.  

5.  	Mission Statement of the Commission

The mission of the Human Rights Commission is to endeavour to ensure that the human rights of all people in the State are fully realised and protected, in law, in policy and in practice.

The Commission will pursue its objectives vigorously and independently.  It will endeavour to ensure that Irish law and practice is in line with the highest international standards, measuring our law and practice against the standards set out in the Constitution and in international human rights agreements to which Ireland is a party.

Where the Commission believes human rights are not adequately protected, it will say so clearly and strongly, and will actively seek change in the law, policy or practice concerned.

In carrying out its functions, the Commission will operate in an independent, fair, open, accessible and accountable manner and will seek to use to the full the powers conferred upon it.

The Commission will seek to increase awareness of human rights protections and how to access them, striving to create a strong, pervasive culture of human rights at all levels within the State.

The Commission will work closely, and where appropriate, collaboratively with statutory bodies, Government Departments, non-governmental organisations and all involved in human rights issues.  The Commission will work closely with other National Human Rights Commissions, the UN and the Council of Europe to secure a high standard of human rights protection.

The Commission takes particularly seriously its participation in the Joint Committee with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as provided for by the Good Friday Agreement.  The Commission will work collaboratively to strengthen the protection of human rights in both jurisdictions and work to establish a charter ‘reflecting and endorsing agreed measures for the protection of the fundamental rights of everyone living in the island of Ireland’, as proposed by the Agreement.

6. 	Core Values

The protection and promotion of human rights is the core value of the Human Rights Commission.  In pursuit of this commitment, the Commission will work to ensure the protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in recognition of the universal, indivisible, interdependent and inter-related nature of all human rights.

In carrying out its functions, the Commission will act independently and in a transparent and fair manner.  The Commission will be as accessible and accountable as possible.

A commitment to consultation and dialogue will be at the heart of the Commission’s work.  The Commission will co-operate closely with other bodies at home and abroad.

The Commission will work in support of other agencies active in the field of human rights.  The Commission’s aim will be to work in harmony with such bodies and avoid any unnecessary duplication of work.  In this respect, the Commission will be guided by the need to deploy its limited resources as effectively as possible.

In developing its work, the Commission will seek to exercise its unique statutory powers in a manner which will bring ‘added value’ to work already being undertaken in the State to promote and protect human rights.

The ability to respond effectively to situations as they arise will be a central operational value for the Commission.

The Commission will be motivated by respect for the inherent equality and dignity of all individuals and a commitment to promote and protect the rights of the most vulnerable members of society.

The Commission will review and evaluate its own work in order to ensure that it exercises its mandate to promote and protect human rights as effectively as possible.

7.  	Staffing

From its inception in July 2001 until December 2002 the Commission staff consisted of a temporary Administrator and a temporary Personal Assistant to the President.

In June 2002, Dr Alpha Commolly assumed duties as Chief Executive of the Commission.

Towards the end of 2002, the Commission commenced advertising for the following three-year contract positions:

-	Senior Caseworker
-	Senior Legislation and Policy Review Officer
-	Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer
-	Assistant Caseworker
-	Assistant Legislation and Policy Review Officer
-	General Administrator
-	Administrator (Finance and Human Resources)
-	Desk Officer
-	Clerical Officers (2)
	
-	None of these positions had been filled by the end of this reporting period.

8.  	Committees

During these periods the Commission met in ordinary session once a month and from time to time in special session to address a particular issue or matter.

The Commission in its early phase established a number of Committees and Advisory Groups in furtherance of its functions.  There have been 15 Committees and Advisory Groups to date.

The composition and terms of reference of the Committees are determined by the Commission.  While Committees normally comprise members of the Commission, the Commission may invite a person or persons other than a member of the Commission to be a non-voting member of the Committee.  The Advisory Group on Children with Disabilities and the Advisory Group on Research concerning the Treatment of Older Persons in Institutions include persons with particular knowledge of these matters who are not members of the Commission, and the Commission intends to continue this practice, as appropriate, during the period of the Plan.  The Chief Executive is also a member of several Committees and it is likewise intended to continue this practice.

Committees are subordinate to the Commission; and each Committee has a convenor who reports regularly to the Commission on the work of the Committee.

The Commission also participates in the Joint Committee of Representatives of the Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement.  The Joint Committee meets approximately six times a year, and has presently two Sub-Committees: the Sub-Committee on Racism and the Sub-Committee on the Development of a Charter of Rights for the Island of Ireland.  The Commission attaches great importance to the work of the Joint Committee and will continue to participate actively in it over the period of this Plan.

The Committees established in the early life of the Commission were as follows:
•	Ad Hoc Committee on the Offences Against the State Acts, 1939-1998
•	Ad Hoc Staffing Committee
•	Advisory Group on Children with Disabilities
•	Advisory Group on Research concerning the Treatment of Older Persons in Institutions
•	Committee on Approach to Work
•	Committee on Racism
•	Committee on Rules of Procedure
•	Committee on the Appointment of the Chief Executive Officer to the Irish Human Rights Commission
•	Committee on the Website, Logo and Computer Network
•	Committee to draft Submission on the Incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Irish Law
•	Committee to Negotiate with the Department of Finance
•	Communications Committee
•	Finance Committee
•	Premises Committee
•	Research Committee

9. 	FINANCIAL SUMMARY
					
2001-2002

INCOME					 2001					2002
						  IR£					    €

Grant					      1,000,000.00			    1,292,000.00	

EXPENDITURES

Salaries & Wages				64,364.11			      247,397.06

Allowances to				92,689.54			      183,622.64
Commissioners				

Travel and Subsistence			  2,033.27			          4,888.62
(home)

Travel and Subsistence			  2,412.24			        16,885.60
(foreign)

Room Hire					  3,823.02			          1,199.96

Miscellaneous				53,708.50			      154,783.97

				          IR£    219,030.68		          €     608,777.85

SURPLUS			         IR£    780,969.32		          €     683,222.15

APPENDIX I

MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION

Maurice MANNING, (President)

Dr Maurice Manning was appointed President of the Commission in August 2002. 

An academic by background, Dr Manning previously lectured in politics in University College Dublin and has been visiting professor at the University of Paris (Vincennes) and the University of West Florida. He is a member of the Senate of the National University of Ireland, of the Governing Authority of University College Dublin and was a member of the Governing Authority of the European University Institute at Florence. 

Dr Manning has written several books on modern Irish politics. He was a member of the Oireachtas for twenty-one years, serving in both the Dáil and the Seanad. He was a member of the New Ireland Forum and the British Irish Inter Parliamentary Body. He served as both Leader of the Seanad and Leader of the Opposition in that House.  

William BINCHY,

Professor Binchy is Regius Professor of Laws at Trinity College, Dublin. He was special legal adviser on family law reform to the Department of Justice, preparing legislation on family maintenance, protection of the family home and domestic violence. As Research Counsellor to the Law Reform Commission he advised on reform of law relating to the status of children. He has represented Ireland at the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the areas of marriage and inter-country adoption. He has actively contributed to public discussion of human rights issues, including those relating to divorce, abortion, Travellers and asylum seekers. He has participated in a programme on constitutionalism for the Tanzanian judiciary held in Dar es Salaam, is co-organiser of a training programme for the magistracy of Botswana and organiser of the annual African workshop on constitutionalism for the Chief Justices and senior judiciary of African states, held in Trinity College, Dublin, which is now in its eighth year. He was a Visiting Fellow at Corpus Christi College Cambridge for the Michaelmas term of 2002 and was a member of the Hederman Committee to Review the Offences Against the State Acts, which reported in May 2002.

Olive BRAIDEN, 

Olive Braiden is former Director of the Rape Crisis Centre. In this context she campaigned for legislative reform in the area of rape and child sexual abuse. She initiated and published research on the law on rape in the EU. She established training programmes for community workers in the former Yugoslavia. In the aftermath of the war these programmes are continuing in Kosovo. She is a board member of the Courts Service, the Judicial Advisory Board and is Chairwoman of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and chairwoman of the Arts Council. She has served on many Government Working Parties and Steering Committees and was a founding member of UNIFEM. Over a period of fifteen years she has lived in Spain, France, Belgium, the UK, Bahamas and Thailand. She recently completed a M.Phil in Gender Studies in Trinity College Dublin.

Martin COLLINS, 

Martin Collins is Assistant Director of Pavee Point Travellers’ Centre. He has extensive experience of community work with Travellers over 17 years. He is a former member of the Government Task Force on the Travelling Community which is generally regarded as a milestone in terms of offering a new analysis and framework for action on the problems experienced by Irish Travellers. He then went on to become a member of the Monitoring Committee set up to monitor the implementation of the 1995 Task Force Report. He is also a founding member of the Irish Traveller Movement which has a membership of over 80 Traveller groups. Through his work at Pavee Point he is involved in providing anti-racism training to a wide range of professions including the Gardaí, teachers and social workers. He was also actively involved in the campaign for the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation, namely the Equal Status Act and the Employment Equality Act, which for the first time offered redress to Travellers who experienced unlawful discrimination.

Robert DALY, 

Professor Daly is an expert on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, on the psychiatric effects of interrogation and torture and on the medical aspects of human rights in general. In the past he represented the Irish Government in the torture case against the UK at the European Commission on Human Rights, was a member of Amnesty International’s Medical Advisory Board awarded the European Peace Prize, advised the American Civil Liberties Union, and has worked for victims of abuse in Latin American States and the Balkan Wars. He has evaluated programmes of the European Commission and the Council of Europe in many parts of the world. He has also been a trainer for the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, for human rights workers in the Kosovo conflict, etc. He has served as an expert witness in numerous human rights-related cases on both sides of the border and in the UK. He currently serves on the World Psychiatric Association’s Committee dealing with allegations of abuse and, as Chairman of the Irish Division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, advised the Minister for Health on changes in Mental Health law. He was formerly Dean of Medicine and head of the Psychiatry Department at University College Cork, Clinical Director in the Southern Health Board and a member of the Medical Research Council.

Suzanne EGAN,

Suzanne Egan has been a lecturer in International and European Human Rights Law at the Faculty of Law in University College Dublin since 1992. She is a qualified barrister and holds a Master of Laws Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. Prior to lecturing at UCD, she was the Legal Supervisor of an independent research centre on refugee law and policy in Canada (1989-1991) and a Research Assistant at the Law Reform Commission in Ireland (1991-1992). She is a founding member of the Refugee Protection Policy Group in Ireland, an independent group of lawyers, academics and others working in the field of refugee law and policy. She is also a former member of the Executive Committee of the Irish Refugee Council. She has published widely in the area of human rights, particularly with regard to refugee law and policy.

Jane LIDDY, 

Jane Flood Liddy, born in Dublin, called to the Irish Bar (1972), holds a Diploma in European Law (1974), was the last Irish member of the European Commission on Human Rights (1987-1999). This independent body had jurisdiction over approximately 40 countries. She is a former President of its First Chamber. The work involved rejecting some cases, often after adversarial, including oral, proceedings, in decisions not subject to appeal and also assessing the merits of other cases by investigations e.g. in Turkey, prior to final judgment by the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. She resigned from the Civil Service in 1987 to take up this post. Before that, she was Deputy Legal Adviser in the Department of Foreign Affairs, where her duties included advising on all aspects of international human rights law. She has published and has had speaking engagements on human rights issues in Ireland and abroad since 1984.

Michael FARRELL, 

Michael Farrell was prominently involved in the Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s and has campaigned on many civil rights and human rights issues over the last 30 years. He was involved in campaigns for the Birmingham Six and other victims of miscarriages of justice in the 1980s and in the campaign against political censorship under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act. He was vice-chair and then co-chair of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties for most of the 1990s and was involved in campaigns for gay rights, divorce, equality laws, refugee rights, against racism, and for the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Irish law. He has an M.Sc. in Politics and was formerly a journalist and author. He is now a solicitor and has been involved in taking cases to the European Court of Human Rights and other international bodies. Born and brought up in Co. Derry, he lived for 20 years in Belfast before moving to Dublin where he now lives.

Nuala KELLY, 

Nuala Kelly has worked at national and international level to ensure respect and enforcement of the human rights of Irish emigrants and prisoners abroad. As former Co-ordinator of the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas, she helped co-ordinate campaigns to vindicate the rights of the Birmingham Six, the Guildford Four, the Maguire family and other victims of injustice and built a case service for all Irish prisoners abroad.

She continues her work with prisoner-related projects such as Expac and the Educational Trust, a cross-border body which allocates grants for education and training to ex-prisoners. She also does consultancy and research work with a focus on prison, migration and social policy issues.

She participated in the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and was a member of the Consultative Forum of the EU Peace Programme. She was also a member of the Human Rights Working Group of the Irish Commission for Justice and Peace and a board member of the Belfast-based Centre for Research and Documentation.
She was educated at Queen's University Belfast, holds an MSSc in Sociology and has trained in international human rights advocacy at Columbia University, New York. She has taught on human rights and adult education courses and participated in campaigns for the rights of women and communities.

Clodach McGRORY,

Clodach McGrory was born in Belfast. She was awarded a BA degree in Irish by Trinity College, Dublin in 1986 and subsequently was awarded a certificate in professional legal studies and an LLM degree in Human Rights and Emergency Law by Queen’s University, Belfast. 

She practised as a barrister in Northern Ireland and later worked at the Northern Ireland Law Centre. She was an active member of the Belfast-based NGO, the Committee for the Administration of Justice.

In 1997 she was appointed to the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights in Northern Ireland. 

Following the Good Friday Agreement, in 1998 she was appointed as a Sentence Review Commissioner. In this capacity, she had responsibility for the release of prisoners convicted under emergency legislation in Northern Ireland.

Since May 2002 she has held a part-time judicial appointment as a Chairperson of Social Security Appeal Tribunals.

In July 2002 she was appointed to the Life Sentence Review Commission, an independent body which makes decisions on the release of life sentence prisoners convicted under non-emergency legislation in Northern Ireland.

Fionnuala Ní AOLÁIN, 

Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin is Professor of Law at the University of Ulster’s Transitional Justice Institute and Visiting Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. She has previously been Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School (93-94); Associate-in-Law at Columbia Law School (94-96); Visiting Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs Columbia University (96-00); Assistant Professor of Law at the Hebrew University (97-99) and Visiting Fellow at Princeton University (01-02). Her teaching and research interests are in the fields of international law and international human rights law. She has published extensively in the fields of emergency powers, conflict regulation, and sex based violence in times of war. She is an elected member of the Executive Committee for the Belfast based Committee on the Administration of Justice, and is also a member of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. She was previously a representative of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at domestic war crimes trials in Bosnia (96-97). In 2003 she was appointed by the United Nations Division on the Advancement of Women as Special Expert on promoting gender equality times of conflict and peace making. She is a native Irish speaker.

Tom O’HIGGINS,

Tom O'Higgins is a chartered accountant and is a graduate in Economics and History from University College Dublin and in Human Resources Management from Sheffield Business School. He is a former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Institute of Personnel and Development and of the Institute of Taxation.
He was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers from 1969 to 2000 where he was a senior audit partner and Head of Human Resources. He continues to assist organisations in recruitment and human resource issues and serves as a member of selection boards for the Civil Service Commission and for other bodies. A specialist in corporate governance, he is Chairman of the Coombe Women’s Hospital, and is recent Chairman and a member of the Board of Concern Worldwide. He is chairman and a member of the audit committees of a number of State and semi-state bodies. He is also a member of the Change Partnership, an executive coaching and mentoring organization and is a director of a number of private companies. 

Gerard QUINN,  

Gerard Quinn is a professor of law at NUI, Galway. Called to the Irish Bar in November 1983, he holds a Harvard Doctorate in Juridical Science (S.J.D.). He is a former Director of Research at the Law Reform Commission and led the legal research team of the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. He has worked with the European Commission on general human rights issues as well as on the preparation of EU policy instruments in the field of disability rights. He is Director of an EU Network of Disability Discrimination Lawyers. He is a member of the European Committee of Social Rights (Council of Europe). He is a member of the research advisory boards of Land Mine Survivors Network (Washington DC), Soros Foundation EU Monitoring Programme on Accession Countries on Disability (Budapest), AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability), Dublin, and European Children-Our Concern (Brussels). He is a member of the United Nations Working Group convened to draft a treaty on the rights of persons with disabilities. He has published widely on economic, social and cultural rights, on the rights of persons with disabilities and on the EU and human rights.

Mervyn TAYLOR,

Mervyn Taylor is a former Minister for Equality and Law Reform and was a Dáil Deputy for over 16 years. He served as Assistant Government Chief Whip from 1982 to 1987. While in opposition he held various spokesperson positions including Education, Justice, Finance and Public Service, Industry and Commerce, and Employment Equality and Law Reform. He is a practising solicitor for 40 years, apart from the period in which he held Ministerial Office. He is a former member of the European Monitoring Committee on Racism and Xenophobia.

Katherine ZAPPONE, 

Katherine Zappone is a philosopher, educator and independent public policy research consultant. As former Chief Executive of the National Women’s Council in Ireland, she participated in a number of committees and working groups at national, European and international level to advocate women’s social and economic rights and gender equality. She is a former member of the National Economic and Social Council of Ireland and has conducted a number of national research projects in public policy and gender equality, and equality in children’s education. She is co-founder and Chair of An Cosán, a large community-based organization in West Tallaght, Dublin committed to eradicating poverty through education. She lectured for a decade in Trinity College Dublin in ethics and human rights, and has lectured in Canada, Australia, Europe, the USA and throughout Ireland. Widely published in feminism, ethics, equality issues and education, she conducts research, consults and teaches. Her most recent work includes: Charting the Equality Agenda: A Coherent Framework for Equality Strategies in Ireland North and South (2001) and Re-Thinking Identity: The Challenge of Diversity (2003). She holds a PhD in Education and Religion from Boston College.

APPENDIX II

STAFFING STRUCTURE

Commission

Chief Executive

Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer

Senior Legislation & Policy Review Officer

Senior Caseworker

President

Assistant Caseworker

Assistant Legislation & Policy Review Officer

Administrator (Finance & Human Resources)

General Administrator

Desk Officer

Clerical Officer*

Clerical Officer*

* In addition to general clerical duties, one of the clerical officers has special responsibilities to the President and one to the Chief Executive.