Press Releases

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the Commission) has today welcomed a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruling in favour of a woman who challenged the Garda Representative Association (GRA) on unlawfully discriminating and victimising her when she applied for the role of Assistant to the General Secretary of the organisation. Tara McManus, a member…

Commission’s Amicus Curiae Legal Submissions Published The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the ‘Commission’) has appeared before the Supreme Court in exercise of its amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) function in the case of Middelkamp v. Minister for Justice and Equality. The case focuses on Ms Middelkamp, a Canadian national, who came to the State…

Five new members have been appointed to serve on the statutory advisory committee to support the monitoring of Ireland’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In March 2018 Ireland ratified CRPD, an international human rights treaty, which sets out to promote, protect and ensure that all persons with…

Significant changes are required the ‘General Scheme of a Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill’ to ensure compliance with human rights and equality standards, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) said today, in a Submission on the General Scheme of a Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill. We recommend that…

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) is providing legal representation to an applicant who was granted leave on Monday by the High Court to challenge an immigration decision by way of judicial review. The applicant, who is a disability advocate and a U.S. national, is challenging the Minister for Justice’s refusal to…

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the ‘Commission’) has today been given permission by the Supreme Court to use its amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) function in an important case, which will examine the reach of search warrants in relation to electronic devices. In the case, DPP vs Patrick Quirke, a search warrant…

Safe access zones must be legislated for without further delay, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) said today, in a submission on the General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2022. The Commission highlights how anti-abortion activity has been reported outside of health clinics, GP practices…

€400,000 awarded to 32 projects to advance economic equality and promote compliance with the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty (‘the Duty’) The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has today announced the 32 organisations to be awarded a total of €400,000 in funding for projects under its Human Rights and Equality Grants Scheme…

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has today been granted leave from the High Court to exercise its amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) function in a significant case focused on redress for survivors of historic child sexual abuse in schools. As amicus curiae in the case of PD v. The Minister…

Human Rights and Equality Bodies Address Oireachtas Members The proposed Electronic Travel Authorisation* (ETA), required for travel into Northern Ireland for non-Irish and non-British citizens, raises human rights and equality concerns, Oireachtas members were warned today. In an address to the Houses of the Oireachtas, Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and…