The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI), and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) have heard EU exit concerns human rights and equality from civil society organisations from both sides of the border. The ‘Rights After Brexit’ virtual event, hosted by the Centre for Cross Border Studies,…
Step Comes After Years of Advocacy and Engagement 13 May 2021 – The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission warmly welcomes this morning’s news that all of Ireland’s High Street banks will, from today accept State-issued documents for asylum seekers and refugees to be able to open a bank account “without undue difficulty.” Today’s joint…
Commission Makes First EU Contribution as Ireland’s National Rapporteur on Trafficking of Human Beings The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is today providing its first independent update to the European Union on Ireland’s response to tackling the trafficking of human beings. The Commission will set out to EU Partners that the State is currently…
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), along with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), today briefed the Assembly Committee for the Executive Office on their ongoing work on ensuring the protection of equality and human rights following Brexit. The ECNI Chief Commissioner, Geraldine McGahey,…
Bank of Ireland Takes Steps to Provide Access to Accounts for Asylum Seekers – Commission Calls on All High Street Banks to Follow The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission can confirm that following formal engagement with Bank of Ireland, the bank has agreed that it will accept State-issued documents for asylum seekers to be…
Commission Makes Recommendations to Minister and Oireachtas on Proposed Judicial Appointments Law The Attorney General as the Government’s Chief Legal Advisor should not have a role in the process to appoint new Judges, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘The Commission’) has told the Minister for Justice and Oireachtas Members in a recommendations paper…
In the wake of the RTÉ Investigates programme detailing the collection of information on children with autism involved in legal challenges to the State for access to basic services, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission calls today on the Department of Health to publish its independent review of the practice at the earliest possible…
Appeal by Mother Seeking to Secure Driving Licence to Access Work and Childcare Rejected by High Court The High Court has rejected an appeal by an Asylum Seeker, supported by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’), that she had been discriminated against by the Road Safety Authority (‘the RSA’) when they refused…
New rules introduced in 2016 have made it harder for refugees to unite with their family members, according to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Speaking at a joint event today, both organisations have set out that the more restrictive measures in the International Protection Act 2015 mean…
Council of Europe Findings on Housing in Ireland Sees State in Breach of its Obligations The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has welcomed today’s the Council of Europe’s finding that the State remains in breach of its obligations under the European Social Charter to provide appropriate accommodation to Travellers and social housing tenants…