The Irish Human Rights Commission has decided to conduct an enquiry into the treatment of a foreign national at Dublin Airport. The purpose of the enquiry includes keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights and the promotion of understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights in the State.
The enquiry will be conducted in private and its results will be issued and made public when complete.
The Commission’s enquiry function is an adjunct to other functions of the Commission such as reviewing law and practice in the State and promoting greater understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights. While the Commission is not a judicial body and cannot therefore afford individuals redress for violations of their rights, it can, on the basis of an enquiry, recommend measures to Government which would strengthen the protection of human rights in the State.
It is not envisaged that there will be further public comment on the subject matter of this particular enquiry until it is completed and its findings published.
For further information please contact:
Mary Ruddy, Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer
Tel. 01-8589601
E-mail: mruddy@ihrc.ie
IHRC, Jervis House, Jervis Street, Dublin 1. www.ihrc.ie
Note:
The Commission has the power to conduct enquiries into issues connected with the protection of human rights, either of its own volition or at the request of someone who has a sufficient interest in the matter. Such enquiries must be connected to one of the following functions of the Commission:
a review of law and practice or
consultation with national or international bodies or agencies or
making recommendations to the Government or
the promotion of understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights.1
The decision to conduct this particular enquiry is connected to the functions outlined in (i) and (iii) above.
In conducting an enquiry, the Commission can require persons to furnish relevant information, documentation or materials to the Commission and it can require such persons to attend before the Commission. An enquiry may be conducted in public or in private as the Commission, in its discretion, considers appropriate and the Commission can determine the procedure for conducting an enquiry.
Each year the Commission receives communications from individuals. If the Commission is not the appropriate body to deal with the communication, the person may be referred to the appropriate agency. If it appears that the matter may come within the Commission’s remit, the person may make a formal request for an enquiry.
1 These are the functions outlined in sections 8 (a), (c), (d) and (e) of the Human Rights Commission Act 2000.