Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner (designate) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (designate) was invited to address the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality today to discuss her nomination as Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC). The IHREC is an enhanced National Human Rights and Equality Institution bringing together the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority.
The Chief Commissioner (designate) spoke of the mannerof her nomination for the position of Chief Commissioner, as a positive model for public appointments. Ms Logan said “I am extremely pleased and honoured to be nominated as Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The nomination follows an open competition – a transparent and rigorous process run by the public appointments service, which included a series of two separate interviews by a group of international experts in the area of human rights and equality. This process, coupled with the nomination of the existing members of the IHREC by an independent selection panel is unique. It is explicitly written into statute in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. The process will be complete following a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas and the formal appointment of all members of the IHREC and myself by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins.”
Ms Logan continued “I believe the transparent and independent nature of this process is a positive model of public appointments and is of critical importance to establishing the credibility of the new body with members of the public, and the diverse range of our various stakeholders, including statutory agencies and civil society.”
The Chief Commissioner (designate) stressed the importance of the independence of the IHREC. Ms Logan said “The independent functioning of the Commission is central to it carrying out its remit. I welcome the fact that new Commission will have its own Oireachtas Vote in 2015, and will be accountable through its Director – the Accounting Officer, to the Public Accounts Committee in addition to accountability for its statutory functions through its annual report to the Oireachtas; thereby making the Commission effectively accountable to the Oireachtas. This is a further significant and welcome departure from the previous legislative framework. I am concerned that calls for enhanced oversight and governance set out in the Toland Report which reviewed the Department of Justice and Equality should take account of the enhanced independence provided for in the Irish human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.”
Ms Logan continued “A first task for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is its re-accreditation as Ireland’s National Human Rights Institution. Structural independence from central Government is a key factor for re-accreditation at the United Nations. In this regard, in a recent resolution on national human rights institutions, it is noteworthy that the UN Human Rights Council recalled the ‘importance of financial and administrative independence and the stability of national human rights institutions’ and also noted that national human rights institutions should not face any form of reprisal or intimidation, including political pressure or unjustifiable budgetary limitations as a result of performing their mandates.”
The Chief Commissioner (designate) stressed the value of strong links between the Commission and the various Oireachtas Committees. Ms Logan said “The IHREC is committed to regularly meet with Oireachtas committees as it undertakes its legislative functions. We hope that strong consideration will be given to establishing a dedicated Oireachtas committee to examine equality and human rights matters, with structural linkages to other committees. Such a Parliamentary Committee is key to further embedding a culture of human rights and equality within the political processes of law making within the State.”
ENDS/
Notes to Editor
- Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 (section 13)
- Report of the Independent Review group of the Department of Justice, July 2014 (Toland Report) is available at http://goo.gl/EKyy0v
- Re-accreditation – The Paris Principles are the Principles relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993. There is a section on the importance of the independence of NHRIs.