Legislative Observations

30 May 2022

The consolidation of Garda powers touches upon a number of rights and equality issues. The Commission advises that the precise scope of the powers provided to An Garda Síochána needs to be outlined within the legislation, as opposed to being addressed in codes of practice. Additionally, a clear distinction needs to be maintained between ordinary...

17 May 2022

Submission on the General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill In its recommendations published in May 2022 on the General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill, the Commission notes that the General Scheme both engages and interferes with a number of fundamental human rights, protected under the Constitution and international human rights laws....

18 Apr 2022

Commission submission to the Minister for Justice on the General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill (the ‘General Scheme’). The Commission and its predecessor body, the Irish Human Rights Commission, have previously highlighted a range of human rights and equality concerns relating to the recording and storing of images, and the adequacy and...

20 Mar 2022

The Commission welcomes the opportunity to provide the Joint Committee on Justice with its submission on the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill which it hopes will assist the Committee in its pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. The Commission has previously raised a number of human rights and equality issues arising in...

14 Feb 2022

PDF Version of Review of the Intoxicating Liquor Act pursuant to section 30 of the IHREC Act  Word Version of Review of the Intoxicating Liquor Act pursuant to section 30 of the IHREC Act Final Cover Letter to Minister O’Gorman

10 Jan 2022

In June 2021, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth announced a review of the Equality Acts, including the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018  and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. In our role as Ireland’s National Equality Body ,The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission welcomes the opportunity to make this initial submission on the...

30 Nov 2021

The Commission has a mandate to keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights and equality and to examine any legislative proposal and report its views on any implications for human rights or, equality. We have used this power in examining the General...

19 Nov 2021

Submission to the Independent Review Group on the Offences Against the State Acts

16 Nov 2021

Advisory Paper to the Interdepartmental Group on the Government’s Planned Development of a ‘Restorative Recognition Scheme for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes and County Homes’

5 Nov 2021

In accordance with its founding legislation, the Commission is mandated to keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights and equality and to examine any legislative proposal and report its views on any implications for human rights or, equality. The purpose of...

3 Aug 2021

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s legislative observations and recommendations to the Oireachtas Justice Committee on the General Scheme of the Family Courts Bill 2020.  

14 Jul 2021

In this submission on the General Scheme of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2021 The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission provides its legislative observations focusing on the following matters: – The Right of Access to Birth Certificates and Early Life Information; – ‘No Contact’ Preference and Counselling; – The Child’s Access Rights; and...

31 May 2021

The Commission submission to the Joint Committee on Justice’s deliberations on whether the appropriate balance between the fundamental rights of members of Irish society and the State’s duty to protect public health was struck during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.