The Members Designate of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on 22 May 2013 at 10:00am in Committee Room No. 2.
IHREC Members Designate will discuss the challenges facing human rights and equality in Ireland today, brief Committee members on their appointment to the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and the process for merging the Equality Authority and the IHRC to create a robust national human rights and equality institution.
Challenges to be addressed include the impact of the current financial crisis and austerity measures and the need to work towards strengthening the protection of equality and human rights in Ireland where economic measures can cause particular hardship.
The members designate will further address the importance of ensuring the new independent institution is sufficiently resourced to ensure enhanced protection of equality and human rights and thus deliver on its statutory remit.
ENDS/
Spokespersons are available for comment
For further information, please contact
Fidelma Joyce, IHRC
Mob: 087 783 4939
Notes to Editor
- The Government has announced that the Equality Authority and IHRC will merge to create an enhanced institution and in 2012 published the Scheme of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill. On 16 April 2013, fourteen persons recommended by an independent selection panel were designated by Government as Members of the new institution and transitionally appointed to the IHRC, being expected to be appointed to the Equality Authority shortly.
- Those appointed as Members Designate are: Teresa Blake BL, Frank Conaty, Heydi Foster Breslin, Liam Herrick, David Joyce BL, Mark Kelly, Sunniva McDonagh SC, Professor Siobhán Mullally, Dr Mary Murphy, Dr Fidele Mutwarasibo, Professor Ray Murphy, Orlagh O’Farrell, Betty Purcell and Kieran Rose.
