The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has highlighted ongoing rule of law concerns relating to the legislative processes, the implementation of court judgments, and adequate civil society participation.
These and other concerns were published in IHREC’s submission to the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) 2026 Report on the State of the Rule of Law in the European Union.
These concerns are reflected in ENNHRI's Report that calls on States to ensure civil society organisations have access to predictable, stable, and secure sources of funding, including foreign funding, ensure transparency, participation and human rights impact assessments in law-making, strengthen follow-up to recommendations from National Human Rights Institutions, and address structural human rights issues by ensuring all legislative, policy and administrative measures fully comply with international and European human rights standards.
In its submission to ENNHRI, IHREC highlighted weaknesses in the legislative process, including rushed legislative procedures, limited parliamentary scrutiny and insufficient opportunities for stakeholder engagement. IHREC has stressed the need for transparent, inclusive legislative processes that allow adequate time for consultation and human rights scrutiny.
The Commission further noted the State's failure to fully implement court judgments and recommendations from international human rights bodies, which has significant implications for accountability and the protection of rights.
One year after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) issued its recommendations to Ireland, IHREC also raised concerns about the persistent underfunding of civil society organisations, particularly those working on women's and girls' rights, and the lack of meaningful, ongoing consultation with civil society in policy and legislative development.
Read IHREC’s submission on the State of the Rule of Law in Europe.
Use ENNHRI’s dedicated online tool to explore the latest ENNHRI 2026 Report on the State of the Rule of Law in the European Union.