Launch of Irish Human Rights Law Review by Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly
This event happened on 20 May 2010
Review of Event
PILA hosted the launch of the Irish Human Rights Law Review (IHRLR) by the Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly on Thursday, 20th May 2010. The IHRLR is edited by Donncha O'Connell of the School of Law, NUI Galway and is to be published on an annual basis by Clarus Press. The Review, which should be of interest to academics, students, practitioners and activists working in the field of human rights, will focus on the domestic application of international human rights law and the critical analysis of human rights standards and processes.
Opening the launch, Michael Farrell, Senior Solicitor with FLAC stated that "At a time when the human rights of many vulnerable people are under attack as a result of the economic crisis, and the state's human rights and equality infrastructure has been undermined by disproportionate budget cuts, the launch of the IHRLR is particularly timely."
In her speech, the Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly stated that the launch of the Review presented an opportunity "to begin the process of demystifying human rights and not just for the public, but for the political class, those charged with our public administration and even those charged with engaging with human rights issues in the courts." She went on to state that "through the investigation of complaints a public sector ombudsman is uniquely placed to facilitate good public administration which is based on human rights principles."
Donncha O'Connell the Editor of the IHRLR said it must surely now be time to consider further the question of 'constitutionalising' the office of Ombudsman coming up to the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Constitution. He suggested reform could be achieved by the reorganisation of various statutory bodies for the protection and promotion of human rights and equality under a 'constitutionalised' office of Ombudsman with a clear and strong nexus to Parliament (akin to that of the Comptroller & Auditor General) and by reform of the office the Attorney General to remove the potential for conflict in the role of that office as notional guardian of the public interest and legal adviser to the Government.
The full speeches are available here
Venue
Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1.