The Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) took part in a unique launch today of their Annual Reports for 2012, pending their merger into the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission next year. Both Reports were launched by Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter TD in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Oisin Quinn in the Mansion House in Dublin.
"This joint launch is a testimony to how far the process of combining the work of two distinct organisations has progressed. It is an opportunity to highlight the range of activities that both the IHRC and the Equality Authority have undertaken to promote and protect equality and human rights in Ireland in accordance with their statutory remit. Important progress was made in both organisations in 2012 and continues apace, in tandem with the many new challenges of building a merged human rights and equality body" said the Acting Chair of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Designate, Ms Sunniva Mc Donagh SC.
"More people than ever have contacted the IHRC about their human rights concerns in 2012. The spike in issues that related to economic, social and cultural rights is not surprising as the impact of the economic crisis and austerity policy choices deepen. Employment equality rights continue to be an on-going concern in a weakened labour market, as has accessing goods and services in a challenged economy. Engagement by the public in seeking the solutions for fair economic participation through employment equality and equal status rights has been encouraging in 2012 and clearly indicates the importance of vindicating human rights for full economic, social and political participation in a recovering Ireland", she concluded.
"2012 was a year when the Authority continued to prioritise the promotion, prevention and vindication of equality in Ireland’s workplaces and in service provision. Our work in supporting enterprises, informing people of their rights and responsibilities and in vindicating rights through settlement and formal redress mechanisms, is important. Economic responses which are equality compliant, maximise employee potential and embrace a more inclusive customer base. Good practice in recruitment, promotion and in service provision ensures that merit will drive the potential of employment and service providers to best utilise the potential of their workforce and customer base. Equality makes good sense for the economy and our society as it works towards recovery. The vigilance of the Authority in delivering its services in 2012 and in embracing the new opportunities a merger provides are set out in detail in the Annual Report" said CEO Renee Dempsey.
"In 2012 communications by member of the public and groups to the IHRC increased in relation to economic, social and cultural rights including areas such as healthcare, education, housing, social welfare and employment rights. The Commission provided legal representation in a number of cases to individuals including into inquests, adequate accommodation for a Traveller family and the threatened eviction from his home of a person with an intellectual disability. It also appeared as amicus curiae or friend of the court in four High Court cases concerning legal capacity, mental health detention and treatment, data protection and assisted suicide and before the European Court of Human Rights in two cases concerning inquests and historic child abuse respectively" said Acting CEO of the Irish Human Rights Commission Des Hogan.
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