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The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“The Commission”) will today appear before the Oireachtas Joint-Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. The Commission has been invited to appear before the Joint-Committee, in its role as the independent national human rights and equality body for Ireland, directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission’s functions as set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, include the task to ‘keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights and equality’. Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and Commissioner Professor Siobhán Mullally will appear before the Members of the Joint-Committee. In anticipation of the Committee’s deliberations, the Commission will also publish a policy document to outline some of the principles that may best inform a reformed legal and regulatory framework governing access to abortion in Ireland. In appearing before the Committee, the Commission will make a formal statement and address questions from Members of the Joint Committee. ENDS/ For further information, please contact: Brian Dawson, IHREC Communications Manager, 01 8589601 / 087 0697095 bdawson@ihrec.ie Follow us on twitter @_IHREC

Notes to editor:

The Joint-Committee proceedings will take place in Committee Room 3, Leinster house beginning at 1.30pm on Wednesday 4th of October. The proceedings are public and can be viewed live at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/watchlive/committeeroom3/ The policy document is available at the following link: https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2017/10/IHREC-policy-document.pdf 

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body, appointed by the President and directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission has a statutory remit set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014) to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is Ireland’s national human rights institution and is recognised as such by the United Nations. The Commission is also Ireland’s national equality body for the purpose of a range of EU anti-discrimination measures.