Legislative Observations

9 Apr 2021

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s legislative observations and recommendations to the Minister for Justice on the General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020

14 Mar 2021

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s recommendations to the Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht on the General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.

20 Feb 2021

The Commission welcomes the opportunity to provide the Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration with its submission on the General Scheme of a Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill (the ‘General Scheme’). The Commission has previously raised concerns about the human rights and equality issues arising in connection to this piece of legislation....

3 Feb 2021

The Commission welcomes the opportunity to provide the Committee on Justice with submissions on the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020  which it hopes will assist the Committee in its scrutiny of the Bill. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is both the national human rights institution and the national equality body for Ireland, established...

17 Jul 2020

The Commission was invited to address the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response Dr. Frank Conaty, Acting Chief Commissioner and Commission Member Professor Caroline Fennell addressed the committee in person on Friday 17 July 2020. Ahead of the Committee meeting the Commission made the following written submission focused on the Impact of COVID-19 on People...

3 Jul 2020

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has recommended a review of the Department of Health’s guidance framework on prioritisation in access to critical care in the context of COVID-19. The Commission has made this recommendation in a written submission to the Minister for Health, to ensure this important guidance meets the highest standards of...

29 May 2020

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has contacted Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty T.D. regarding the exclusion of applicants for International Protection residing in direct provision from the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme. Letter to Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty T.D.  

28 May 2020

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has contacted Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh T.D. with its recommendations on the planned system of school-based calculated grades. 27 May 2020 – IHREC Letter to Minister for Education and Skills

28 May 2020

In line with its mandate to keep law and practice as they relate to human rights and equality under review, the Commission has reviewed the legality of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and the exclusion of women returning from maternity leave. Letter to Minister for Finance & Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., 27th...

8 Apr 2020

As negotiations are underway to establish our next Government, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has written individually to the leaders of each of the political parties to urge them to ensure that human rights and equality are central to the next Programme for Government. Please find below this letter as addressed to Leo...

13 Dec 2019

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission submission to the Department of Justice and Equality public consultation – December 2019 The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is both the national human rights institution and the national equality body for Ireland, established under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. The Commission has a...

30 Sep 2018

In this paper, the Commission would like to focus on two specific themes that arise in the context of this scheme of the Bill: conscientious objection; and equality of access to services

3 Apr 2018

The topics addressed in this submission are: Context: the protection of the right to liberty Proposed test in relation to deprivation of liberty Safeguards, procedural and evidential issues Review of deprivation of liberty Chemical restraint and restraint practices

15 Feb 2018

The main provisions of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 are amendments to two existing acts, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 (with a consequential amendment to the Workplace Relations Act 2015). These amendments cover different aspects of the employment relationship, and some aspects of enforcement....

24 Jan 2018

The Commission welcomes the publication of the Equality  (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017  and the emerging consensus on the principle of prohibiting discrimination on the basis of ‘disadvantaged socio-economic status’. The Commission makes preliminary observations on the proposals under the Bill, addressing the following matters: Context of the legislative proposal Legal bases for the new ground...