Freedom of Information Publication Scheme

Introduction

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 .

A. Information about the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

Establishment

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission was established on 01 November 2014, under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.

Roles, Responsibilities and Functions

Section 10 (1) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 sets out the overall functions of the Commission as:

to protect and promote human rights and equality,
to encourage the development of a culture of respect for human rights, equality, and intercultural understanding in the State,
to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights and equality in the State,
to encourage good practice in intercultural relations, to promote tolerance and acceptance of diversity in the State and respect for the freedom and dignity of each person, and
to work towards the elimination of human rights abuses, discrimination and prohibited conduct.

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:

there is respect for, and protection of, each person’s human rights;
there is respect for the dignity and worth of each person;
a person’s ability to achieve his or her potential is not limited by prejudice, discrimination, neglect or prohibited conduct;
each person has a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the economic, political, social or cultural life of the State, and;
there is mutual respect between persons, including classes of persons, based on a shared understanding of the value of diversity within society and on a shared respect for equality and human rights.

Governance/Management Arrangements

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:

2022

54th Ordinary Meeting Minutes – January 2022

55th Ordinary Meeting Minutes – March 2022

56th Ordinary Meeting Minutes – April 2022

Extraordinary Meeting – May 2022

2021

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

2020

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

2019

2018

2017

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:

Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014;
Code of Practice for the Governance of State bodies;
Corporate Governance Standard for the Civil Service;
Ethics in Public Office Act 1995;
Standards in Public Office Act 2001;
Report of the Working Group on the Accountability of Secretaries General and Accounting Officers (the Mullarkey Report);
Public Financial Procedures 2008.

Organisational & Pay Grading Structure

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

Types of Records Held by the Commission

Records held by the Commission fall within the following categories:

General

Annual Reports;
Strategy Statements;
Work Plans;
Minutes of Plenary Meetings;
Internal Administration Records.

Legal

Records of legal assistance sought and received under Section 40;
Records of legal queries;
Records related to Amicus Curiae briefs.

Policy & Research

Published research reports;
Published policy position statements.

Strategic Engagement

Contacts with Government Departments;
Contacts with Oireachtas Committees;
Press Cuttings;
Speeches and Presentations;
Records relating to publication of reports e.g. annual reports.

Corporate Affairs

Corporate Assurance Agreement(s);
Accounts records;
Assets Register;
Risk Register;
Facilities records;
ICT records;
Human Resources Records;
Civil/Public Service Guidelines and Circulars;
Internal procedures records;
FOI Requests;
Data Protection Requests;
General enquiries/correspondence.

Contact Details

For general/business enquiries please contact:
Tel: + 353 (0) 1 8589601
Email: info@ihrec.ie

B. Services Provided to the Public

Your Rights information service

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:

Provide information on matters not covered by equality law or human rights law.
Provide information on human rights and equality issues which happen outside the Republic of Ireland.

How information on Your Rights can be accessed

Your Rights information is available on our website.

To contact the Your Rights information service you can also:

Call on 01 858 3000 or Lo call 1 890 245545
E-mail at YourRights@ihrec.ie
Or you can write to:

Your Rights,
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission,
16-22 Green St,
Dublin 7.

C. Decision Making Process for Major Policy Proposals

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.

D. Financial Information

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.

Appropriation Account

The Appropriation Accounts of the Commission are published annually by the Comptroller & Auditor General under Vote 25.

Full text of Appropriation Accounts

Prompt Payment Returns

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 Remuneration/Travel & Subsistence

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

E. Procurement

Procurement Policies

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 .

Current Tenders

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.

F. Freedom of Information Disclosure Log & Information to be Published Routinely

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act came into effect on 14 October 2014, granting members of the public the following statutory rights:

the right to access records held by all public bodies covered by the Act;
the right to have personal information in a record amended where such information is incomplete, incorrect or misleading;
the right to receive reasons for decisions taken by public bodies affecting the person.

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

Making an FOI Request

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

Publications by the Commission can be viewed here.