President Irish Human Rights Commission says housing conditions breach international law

The residents of Dolphin House in Rialto have launched their second monitoring report on the realisation of their right to adequate housing under the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) on 28 March 2011.

As reported in previous PILA bulletins here and here the Rialto Rights in Action group seek to vindicate their human rights under ICESCR, which Ireland has ratified. A human rights hearing was held last May where residents outlined how the damp, mould and sewage conditions in which they live violate their right to adequate housing. At the hearing the group set indicators for Dublin City Council (DCC) to meet at various points within a year to improve the housing conditions and ensure the residents' right to adequate housing is being met.

The first monitoring report, which was launched in October 2010, showed how the indicators set had not been met by DCC with a high proportion of residents still reporting damp, mould and sewage conditions. Comparing results of the survey taken for the report in October the latest monitoring report showed a small decrease in residents reporting problems with damp (77% to 75%), mould (66% to 64%) and sewerage (88% to 84%). The survey also revealed 45% of adults and 42% of children living in Dolphin House had respiratory problems. The report also contained analysis of mould from the flats carried out by NUI Maynooth's biology department which showed the presence of aspergillus fumigatus, which can cause asthma and bronchitis among other illnesses.

Dr Maurice Manning, President of the Irish Human Rights Commission, stated that Ireland is clearly in breach of the ICESCR by failing to bring housing standards up to an acceptable level. Lorna Fox O'Mahony, Professor of Law at Durham University commented that by ratifying the ICESCR the State has committed itself to the progressive realisation of adequate housing, and the residents were exercising their right to demand adequate housing.

DCC, despite being invited to the launch, did not attend.

Please click here to view the Irish Times article.

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