The Law Society of Ireland hosted its annual human rights lecture on Thursday 10 May. Sir Declan Morgan, Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, gave a lecture on the changing relationship between the judiciary, the executive and the legislature in Northern Ireland following the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. Judge Morgan said that following the Human Rights Act, which implemented the ECHR into UK Law, all legislation in Northern Ireland must be compatible with the ECHR. He reported that in his experience he has found that politicians have a "genuine willingness to engage in fruitful conversation" and to respect the boundaries of their powers. The lecture was opened by Chief Justice Susan Denham and Law Society President Donald Binchy.
Click here to see an article on the lecture from the Irish Times.
Meanwhile, FLAC Senior Solicitor Michael Farrell recently delivered a presentation at the Sheehy-Skeffington Spring School 2012. The presentation introduces both the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and the objective of their initial establishment – to protect human rights and promote equality. Farrell then makes reference to the work they have done and what each body has achieved. Click here to see the presentation in full by Senior Solicitor Michael Farrell from the Sheehy-Skeffington Spring School 2012.
The Equality Authority has taken cases involving discrimination against marginalised and disadvantaged groups like Travellers, pregnant workers in addition to ethnic minorities and the gay community. The IHRC’s work to date has focused more on the development of human rights education and has also given its support to raise awareness for campaigns such as to the residents of the Dolphin House flats in Dublin.
The two bodies are to be merged following funding cuts that meant the separate bodies could not function at full capacity. The Government says that the new merged body would be consolidated and strengthened.
A working group was established by the Minister for Justice and Equality to “scope” the merger of the two bodies. The working group’s report sets out criteria for the new body to adhere to such as “independence, compliance with the UN’s Paris Principles, a fair and transparent appointments process, staff who are appointed by the IHREC itself not seconded civil servants, accountability to the Oireachtas rather than any Government Department and crucially, adequate resources.”
The report has been welcomed by the Minister for Justice and Equality and the proposed legislation is due to be passed before the summer and the new body is to be established by the autumn.