FIRST ENQUIRY QUESTIONS WHETHER INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS WERE RESPECTED IN STATE PENSION ELIGIBILITY FOR SELF-EMPLOYED COUPLE Irish Human Rights Commission recommends changes to how public policy is formulated It would appear that international human rights standards, such as the European Code of Social Security and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), have not…
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has forwarded its observations on the Criminal Justice Bill 2007 to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In its observations the Commission makes recommendations on a number of the issues raised in the bill, but it is also critical of the timeframe available to it for consideration…
The Equality Authority has welcomed a finding by the Equality Tribunal that a primary school victimised a Traveller boy with a disability under the terms of the Equal Status Acts. The Board of Management of Scoil Lios Teilic in Kerry has been ordered to pay €6,350, the maximum allowed under the Acts, to the complainant….
The President of the Irish Human Rights Commission, Dr. Maurice Manning, and the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Monica McWilliams, met yesterday with representatives of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group in connection with the bombing in August 1988 of Omagh town centre and related matters. The purpose of the…
New research published by the Equality Authority and the National Disability Authority, entitled ‘The Dynamics of Disability and Social Inclusion’, establishes the relationship between the experience of disability over time and its impact in the areas of employment, income and social participation. It explores for the first time how employment, earnings, household income and social…
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has forwarded its observations on the Scheme of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. "While we welcome the fact that the Government is introducing a comprehensive immigration policy, we do have concerns that there is a lack of compliance with…
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has forwarded to the Minister for Foreign Affairs its observations on the proposed Passports Bill. "The Commission is especially pleased that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has referred this important legislative proposal to the IHRC for its observations. This is the first occasion on which a Minister other than…
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has forwarded to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, its observations and proposals for amendments to Defamation Bill 2006 which the Minister referred to the IHRC for its comments. The Defamation Bill 2006 introduces reforms in an important area of law with significant human rights dimensions. In…
The Equality Authority has welcomed the first significant settlement of a case on the Traveller ground under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. The case involved a ban by a public house on serving Travellers. The five complainants were all regular patrons of Bennigans public house, Parkwest, Ballyfermot. In December 2005 and early January 2006 all…
The Equality Authority today welcomed the publication of the Report of the Working Group on Domestic Partnership. “The report creates a valuable context within which to move forward and accord full legal recognition for same sex couples. This is urgent to remove the current disadvantages and difficulties experienced by same sex couples in the absence…