Legislative Observations

2 Oct 2023

We welcome the opportunity to provide this submission on the Planning and Development Bill 2022. We take this opportunity to highlight the deep-rooted relationship between planning and development, and human rights and equality. Human rights cannot be enjoyed without an accessible, safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and planning and development in the State has,...

20 Jul 2023

The Commission has published a second set of recommendations to Government as part of ongoing engagement with the Review of the Equality Acts, including the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. The submission, sets out over 55 specific recommendations on access to justice and legal aid; on exemptions under the Equality Acts;...

12 Jul 2023

In July 2023, the Commission submitted its Legislative Observations on the General Scheme of the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill. We made 47 recommendations in total, amongst them calling for the Agency to be victim and survivor centred, for a review of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV to expand on refuge services,...

6 Mar 2023

Download the Irish Human Rights and Equality Submission on the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill.

6 Dec 2022

In October 2020, the Commission was designated as Ireland’s Independent National Rapporteur on the Trafficking of Human Beings. This accords with the obligation set forth in Article 19 of the EU’s Anti-Trafficking Directive that introduced a legally binding requirement for all EU Member States to establish National Rapporteurs or equivalent mechanisms. The development of a...

24 Nov 2022

Submission to the Review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 Accessible Word Version  

8 Nov 2022

Accessible word version of Submission on the General Scheme of the Inspection of Places of Detention Bill

19 Oct 2022

The Commission welcomes the opportunity to provide its submission on the General Scheme of a Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill. The Commission recognises the diversity of women and children affected by their experiences within Mother and Baby Homes and related institutions including married women, unmarried women, Traveller women and children, disabled women and...

6 Oct 2022

The Commission welcomes the opportunity to provide the Minister for Health with its submission on the General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022. The Commission acknowledges the complexity of the sensitive issues being considered by the Minister in respect of this legislation. In particular the Commission acknowledges that...

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

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. In order to align this legislation with the State’s human rights...

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

Word Version of Review of the Intoxicating Liquor Act pursuant to section 30 of the IHREC Act  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...