The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s Publication Scheme is prepared under Section 8 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014.
This Publication Scheme is designed to facilitate the provision of up-to-date information relating to the Commission’s organisational structure, functions, services, decision-making, finance, procurement and FOI. The Publication Scheme is web based, and contains links to reference material which will be updated as provided for under the Act.
If you require information that is not currently made publicly available as part of this Publication Scheme, you may consider making an FOI Request to the Commission using our FOI Request Guide & Form .
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission was established on 01 November 2014, under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.
Section 10 (1) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 sets out the overall functions of the Commission as:
Section 10 (2) of the Act sets out a wide range of specific functions and powers through which the Commission can address its overall mandate.
In undertaking its mandate, the Commission is obliged by section 10(3) of the Act to exercise its functions with a view to encouraging and supporting the development of a society in which:
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act specifies that the Commission shall consist of not more than 15 and not less than 12 members, one of whom shall be the Chief Commissioner of the Commission.
The provisions of the Act are designed to ensure the independence of the Commission in its work. Commission members are appointed by Head of State, President Michael D. Higgins, following a resolution by both Houses of the Oireachtas, and the members independently determine the Commission’s policy and activity.
The structural independence of the Commission, in accordance with the Paris Principles, has been recognised in its “A” Status accreditation as an NHRI with the United Nations.
The Commission conducts approximately 6-8 ordinary plenary meetings per year. In addition, extraordinary meetings of the Commission may be conducted to facilitate the recording of time-sensitive decisions in between scheduled ordinary plenary meetings.
A full breakdown of Commission membership and attendance for previous years is published in the Commission’s Annual Reports.
Decision-making at Commission level is conducted, where possible, on the basis of consensus. Where there is a diversity of opinion on a given matter, a majority vote may be taken to determine the Commission’s position.
Minutes of ordinary plenary meetings and extraordinary meetings are published as part of this publications scheme and can be viewed below:
54th Ordinary Meeting Minutes – January 2022
55th Ordinary Meeting Minutes – March 2022
56th Ordinary Meeting Minutes – April 2022
Extraordinary Meeting – May 2022
7 January 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
20 January 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
26 January 2021 – 46th Ordinary Plenary Meeting – Minutes
8 February 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
17 February 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
9 March 2021 – 47th Ordinary Plenary Meeting- Minutes
7 April 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
20 April 2021 – Minutes – 48th Ordinary Plenary Meeting – Minutes
1 June 2021 – Minutes – 49th Ordinary Plenary Meeting– Minutes
24 June 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
13 July 2021 – 50th Ordinary Plenary Meeting – Minutes
19 July 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
7 September 2021 – 51st Ordinary Plenary Meeting – Minutes
10 September 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
17 September 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
6 October 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
19 October 2021 – 52nd Ordinary Plenary Meeting – Minutes
9 November 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
30 November 2021 – 53rd Ordinary Plenary Meeting – Minutes
9 December 2021 – Extraordinary Meeting – Minutes
20 January 2020 – Extraordinary Meeting Minutes
28 January 2020 -38th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
31 March 2020 – 39th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
15 April 2020 – Extraordinary Meeting Minutes
24 April 2020 – Minutes – Extraordinary Meeting
20 May 2020 – 40th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
23 June 2020 – 41st Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
28 July 2020 – 42nd Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
22 September 2020 -43rd Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
1 October 2020 – Extraordinary Meeting Minutes
27 October 2020 – 44th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
3 December 2020 -Extraordinary Meeting Minutes
8 December 2020 – 45th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
05 February 2019 30th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
19 March 2019 31st Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
30 April 2019 32nd Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
11 June 2019 33rd Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
16th July 2019 34th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
01 August 2019 Extraordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
17 September 2019 35th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
29 October 2019 Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
11 November 2019 Extraordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
15 November 2019 Extraordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
10 December 2019 Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
07 February 2018 23rd Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
09 March 2018 Extraordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
15 March 2018 24th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
16 March 2018 Extaordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
09 May 2018 25th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
12 June 2018 26th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
21 June 2018 Extaordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
05 July 2018 Extraordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
19 September 2018 27th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
25 September 2018 Extaordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
o4 October 2018 Extraordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
11 October 2018 Extraordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
31 October 2018 28th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
10 December 2018 29th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
20 December 2018 Extraordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
11 April 2017 18th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
17 May 2017 19th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
28 June 2017 20th Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
20 September 2017 21st Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
06 December 2017 22nd Ordinary Plenary Meeting Minutes
The Act specifies that there should be a Director of the Commission, who shall carry on and manage, and control generally, the administration of the Commission. The Director is accountable to the Commission for the efficient and effective management of the Commission.
The Commission is funded through a Vote of the Oireachtas and the Director of the Commission is the Accounting Officer for its Vote.
The overall governance and control framework within the Commission is guided by:
The Commission is the employer of its staff who are civil servants in the civil service of the State, and who are paid according to standard civil service scales. The organisational and pay grading structure of the current staff is:
Grade/Pay Scale No. on Scale
Chief Commissioner – 1
Director – 1
Principal Officer – 5
Assistant Principal Officer – 11
Higher Executive Officer – 13
Administrative Officer – 11
Executive Officer – 13
Clerical Officer – 13
Records held by the Commission fall within the following categories:
General
Legal
Policy & Research
Strategic Engagement
Corporate Affairs
Strategy Statement 2016-2018
Strategy Statement 2016-2018 Plain English – Edited by NALA
Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission
16-22 Green Street
Dublin 7
D07 CR20
For general/business enquiries please contact:
Tel: + 353 (0) 1 8589601
Email: info@ihrec.ie
The Commission, through its free Your Rights information service can provide you with information on your rights, and the remedies available to you, under equality and human rights law in Ireland. This includes information on:
Please note that the Your Rights service can only provide information, and specifically cannot provide legal advice.
Also the Your Rights information service cannot:
Your Rights information is available on our website.
To contact the Your Rights information service you can also:
Your Rights,
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission,
16-22 Green St,
Dublin 7.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act specifies that the Commission shall consist of not more than 15 and not less than 12 members, one of whom shall be the Chief Commissioner of the Commission.
The provisions of the Act are designed to ensure the independence of the Commission in its work. Commission members are appointed by appointed by Head of State, President Michael D. Higgins, following a resolution by both Houses of the Oireachtas, and the members independently determine the Commission’s policy and activity.
The Commission is funded through a Vote of the Oireachtas, which is published in the Annual Government Estimates, and the Director of the Commission is the Accounting Officer for its Vote.
In accordance with section 27(1) of the IHREC Act 2014, the Commission is responsible for preparing Appropriation Accounts and for ensuring the regularity of all financial transactions. The functions underpinning these responsibilities include authorising and monitoring payments for goods and services, tendering processes, the operation of payroll and the compilation of monthly returns to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Appropriation Accounts of the Commission are published annually by the Comptroller & Auditor General under Vote 25.
Full text of Appropriation Accounts
In accordance with Government Decision S29296 of 2 and 8 March 2011, the Commission is required to ensure that valid invoices are paid within 15 days from the date they are received.
The Commission’s quarterly Prompt Payment returns can be viewed here.
Commission Member | 2020 Fees | 2020 Expenses |
---|---|---|
Sinéad Gibney | N/A | 0 |
Jim Clarken | €3,220.19 | 0 |
Frank Conaty | 0 | 0 |
Patrick Connolly | €1,154.25 | 0 |
Caroline Fennell | 0 | €1,385.00 |
Michael Finucane | €3,220.19 | 0 |
Heydi Foster Breslin | €7,695.00 | €735.00 |
Tony Geoghegan | €7,695.00 | €738.00 |
Adam Harris | €3,220.19 | 0 |
Kathleen Lynch | €3,220.19 | 0 |
Salome Mbugua | €7,695.00 | 0 |
Rosaleen McDonagh | €3,220.19 | 0 |
Sunniva McDonagh | €3,220.19 | €319.00 |
Lucy Michael | €3,220.19 | 0 |
Ray Murphy | 0 | 0 |
Colm O' Dwyer | €7,695.00 | 0 |
Commission Member | 2019 Fees Paid | 2019 Expenses |
---|---|---|
Emily Logan | N/A | €247 |
Teresa Blake SC | €6,412 | 0 |
Dr Frank Conaty | 0 | €657 |
Patrick Connolly | €7,695 | 0 |
Prof Caroline Fennell | 0 | €2,323 |
Heydi Foster Breslin | €7,695 | €278 |
Tony Geoghegan | €7,695 | €244 |
David Joyce BL | €5,771 | 0 |
Salome Mbugua | €7,695 | 0 |
Sunniva McDonagh SC | €6,412 | €966 |
Prof Siobhán Mullally | 0 | €1,593 |
Prof Ray Murphy | 0 | €1,084 |
Dr Fidele Mutwarasibo | €6,412 | €1,345 |
Colm O' Dywer | €7,695 | 0 |
Orlagh O' Farrell | €5,771 | 0 |
Commission Member | 2018 Fees Paid | 2018 Expenses Paid |
---|---|---|
Emily Logan | N/A | €1,517 |
Teresa Blake SC | €7,695 | €96 |
Dr Frank Conaty | 0 | €687 |
Patrick Connolly | €4,489 | 0 |
Prof Caroline Fennell | 0 | €961 |
Heydi Foster Breslin | €4,489 | 0 |
Tony Geoghegan | €4,489 | 0 |
David Joyce BL | €7,695 | 0 |
Salome Mbugua | €4,489 | 0 |
Sunniva McDonagh SC | €7,695 | €416 |
Prof Siobhán Mullally | 0 | €2,009 |
Prof Ray Murphy | 0 | €1,611 |
Dr Fidele Mutwarasibo | €7,695 | €869 |
Colm O' Dwyer | €4,489 | 0 |
Orlagh O' Farrell | €7,695 | 0 |
Commission Member | 2017 Fees Paid | 2017 Expenses |
---|---|---|
Emily Logan | N/A | €3,205 |
Teresa Blake | €7,695 | 0 |
Dr Frank Conaty | 0 | €1,041 |
Heydi Foster Breslin | €6,413 | 0 |
Liam Herrick | €6,413 | 0 |
David Joyce BL | €7,695 | 0 |
Mark Kelly | €6,413 | €1,669 |
Sunniva McDonagh SC | €7,695 | 0 |
Prof Siobhán Mullally | 0 | €2,017 |
Dr Mary Murphy | 0 | €525 |
Prof Ray Murphy | 0 | €1,529 |
Dr Fidele Mutwarasibo | €7,695 | €1,387 |
Orlagh O' Farrell | €7,695 | €35 |
Betty Purcell | €6,413 | €35 |
Kieran Rose | 0 | 0 |
Commission Member |
2016 Fees Paid |
2016 Travel & Subsistence |
---|---|---|
Total | €78,232.50 | €9,607.35 |
Ms Emily Logan | N/A | €3,083.87 |
Ms Teresa Blake | €9,618.75 | Nil |
Mr Frank Conaty | Nil | €1,342.48 |
Ms Heydi Foster-Breslin | €9,618.75 | Nil |
Mr Liam Herrick | €1,282.50 | Nil |
Mr David Joyce | €9,618.75 | Nil |
Mr Mark Kelly | €9,618.75 | Nil |
Ms Sunniva McDonagh | €9,618.75 | Nil |
Prof Siobhán Mullally | Nil | €1,241.92 |
Dr Mary Murphy | Nil | €387.53 |
Prof Ray Murphy | Nil | €1,078.80 |
Dr Fidèle Mutwarasibo | €9,618.75 | €2,472.75 |
Ms Orlagh O' Farrell | €9,618.75 | Nil |
Ms Betty Purcell | €9,618.75 | Nil |
Mr Kieran Rose | Nil | Nil |
Commission Member |
2015 Fees Paid |
2015 Travel & Subsistence |
---|---|---|
Total | €61,560 | €9,608 |
Ms Emily Logan | N/A | €569 |
Ms Teresa Blake | €7,695 | Nil |
Mr Frank Conaty | Nil | €2,030 |
Ms Heydi Foster-Breslin | €7,695 | Nil |
Mr Liam Herrick | Nil | Nil |
Mr David Joyce | €7,695 | Nil |
Mr Mark Kelly | €7,695 | Nil |
Ms Sunniva McDonagh | €7,695 | Nil |
Prof Siobhán Mullally | Nil | €955 |
Dr Mary Murphy | Nil | €900 |
Prof Ray Murphy | Nil | €1,944 |
Dr Fidèle Mutwarasibo | €7,695 | €3,129 |
Ms Orlagh O' Farrell | €7,695 | €81 |
Ms Betty Purcell | €7,695 | Nil |
Mr Kieran Rose | Nil | Nil |
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission promotes best practice and consistency of application of public procurement rules in relation to its purchase of goods and services.
All procurement within the Commission must be carried out in compliance with all relevant procurement legislation which can be viewed here .
Where possible, the Commission uses public procurement frameworks provided by the Office of Government Procurement at ogp.gov.ie .
Details of the Commission’s current tenders can be found at www.eTenders.gov.ie which is the central facility for all public sector contracting authorities to advertise procurement opportunities and award notices.
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act came into effect on 14 October 2014, granting members of the public the following statutory rights:
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an FOI body under the FOI Act 2014.
The FOI Act distinguishes between personal and non-personal information. Personal information can be accessed regardless of when it was created if it is still in existence. Non-personal information can only be accessed if it has been created after 21 April 1998 (commencement date of the FOI Act).
The Commission is required to publish Disclosure Logs for all non-personal Freedom of Information requests. Disclosure Logs can be viewed below:
2021 – Quarter 1 – Disclosure Log
2021 – Quarter 2 – Disclosure Log
2021 – Quarter 3 – Disclosure Log
2021 – Quarter 4 – Disclosure Log
For guidance on how to request records from the Commission under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, please use the FOI Request Guide & Form. FOI requests can be submitted to foi@ihrec.ie or by post to this address:
FOI Officer,
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
16-22 Green St,
Dublin 7.
Publications by the Commission can be viewed here.