The Working Group on the establishment of the new, enhanced Human Rights and Equality Commission is seeking input and ideas from civil society, members of the public and those interested in the future of human rights and equality in Ireland, on key questions arising from their Terms of Reference. This consultation process will help to inform the Working Group's consideration of the functions, features and priorities of the new Human Rights and Equality Commission.
The Working Group was appointed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter T.D., on 6 October and has met twice to date.
The key questions the Working Group is consulting on are:
a. What do people want the new body to do?
b. What features and functions does it need to do these things?
c. How should it be structured and what working methods should it use to achieve the above?
It is intended that the new Commission will be in place by the end of February 2012. As the Working Group has such a short timeframe for their work, the closing date for submissions is Wednesday 23 November 2011 at 5.30pm.
Contributions should not exceed 1,500 words and may be emailed to info@upr.ie.
Further information is available from the Working Group's Secretariat, Department of Justice and Equality, Floor 2, Bishop's Square, Redmond's Hill, Dublin 2.
Click here to view more, including the working group's terms of reference.
Meanwhile the Equality & Rights Alliance has made its submission. Click here to view more.