- Commission holds consultation with public, community groups, and NGOs
- Nationwide meetings at eight locations over four weeks
- Submissions to inform Commission’s strategy on human rights and equality
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) continues its first nationwide public consultation and will hold its next meeting in Dublin on Thursday 1st October.
The Commission is visiting eight regional centres over a four week period to inform its strategy in protecting and promoting human rights and equality.
The consultation was launched in Cork, followed by meetings in Waterford, Limerick, Galway and Longford. Further meetings will take place tomorrow in Dublin and next week, in Sligo and Letterkenny. In addition to country-wide meetings, the Commission hosted a stand at the Ploughing Championships in Laois.
The Dublin meeting will be held on Thursday 1st October at Woodquay Venue, Dublin City Council Civic Offices, Dublin 8, from 10am to 1pm.
Due to unprecedented interest, registration for the Dublin meeting is now oversubscribed. But there is still an opportunity for members of the public, community groups, NGOs and others to have their say through an online survey or a written submission with details available on www.ihrec.ie and Have Your Say.
The Commission’s aim is to consult on activities for the implementation of its Strategy Statement 2016-2018, and to inform the public and key stakeholders, including community groups and NGOs, about the Commission’s goals and direction for the future.
Chief Commissioner Emily Logan said: “This consultation provides people with an opportunity to have a say on the future work of the Commission. The strands of this consultation, which include written submissions, public meetings and outreach activity, aim to encourage participation from a diversity of groups and organisations concerned with human rights and equality.”
Ms Logan continued: “We know from a Red C survey conducted earlier this summer that Irish people have a strong engagement with human rights and equality, and almost everyone cares deeply about making Ireland a fairer place to live. But a majority also believe more needs to be done to achieve this aim.
“We see this consultation as a welcome opportunity to listen and engage with people about the Commission’s goals to protect human rights and create a fairer, more equal society.”
Anyone interested in attending future public meetings in Sligo and Letterkenny can register through our website www.ihrec.ie and also at this link: Have Your Say
Written Submissions
The Commission is inviting written submissions through our website, which will remain open until 9 October. Information about how to make a written submission is available on www.ihrec.ie or at this link: Have Your Say. All written submissions received will be acknowledged and made publicly available. Written submissions can be made in addition to attending a public meeting at one of the listed locations across the country.
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For further information please contact Niamh Connolly/Fidelma Joyce on IHREC 01 8589601/ 087 4399022. Twitter: follow us @_ihrec
Notes for Editors:
Public Meetings
The consultation involves eight public meetings across the country and IHREC is encouraging participation, so that people can share their views on our goals and direction for the future.
Public Consultation meetings take place from 10.30am to 1pm (with the exception of Dublin which starts at 10am).
- Cork – 16 September 2015, Millennium Hall, Cork City Council, Eglington Street, Cork
- Waterford – 17 September 2015, The Edmund Rice Heritage Centre, Mount Sion, Barrack St, Waterford
- Limerick – 23 September 2015, Limerick City & County Council, Merchant’s Quay, Limerick
- Galway – 24 September 2015, The Institute for Lifecourse & Society, Dangan, North Campus, NUI Galway
- Longford – 29 September 2015, The Family Centre, St Mel’s Road, Longford
- Dublin – 1 October 2015, Woodquay Venue, Dublin City Council Civic Offices, Dublin 8
- Sligo – 07 October 2015, Northside Community Centre, Holborn Hill, Sligo
- Letterkenny – 08 October 2015, Regional Cultural Centre, 46 Port Road, Letterkenny
Anyone interested in attending any of the public meetings can register through our website www.ihrec.ie and also at this link: Have Your Say
Proactive outreach
The Commission consulted directly with young people on 30 June in Pearse Street Library, Dublin 2, and the event provided lots of useful input from the participants. A targeted consultation is taking place with NGOs working on equality and human rights issues. The Commission is also consulting with individuals and groups who have direct experiences of discrimination and human rights issues.
As not everyone will be in a position to attend public meetings the consultation is going to places where people are gathering! We hosted a stand at the Ploughing Championships, a national public event which attracted hundreds of visitors.
After the Consultation
A report of the consultation will be prepared based on feedback received from written submissions, public meetings and proactive outreach. The consultation will inform the development of the Strategy Statement 2016-2018 which will be launched on 10 December 2015.