The Irish Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter has published Heads of Bill which will replace the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission. This first draft legislation provides for the establishment of a Human Rights and Equality Commission, to be selected by an independent selection panel.
The draft legislation was issued after the publication of a working group report, and the drafting of the Bill has been given high priority in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The Bill gives greater powers and functions for the new Commission (compared to the predecessor bodies).
The new Bill will also provide for more effective and formal powers of inquiry, in line with the Commission of Investigations Act 2004. One of the objectives of the new Commission will include “the promotion of awareness of the multicultural nature of Irish society and of integration of minorities“.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has welcomed the publication of the General Scheme of the Bill with Director Mark Kelly commenting “The ICCL is pleased that the Minister has committed to expeditiously implement the recommendations of the working group on the establishment of a new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.”
Click here to see a press release by the ICCL.
The Irish Human Rights Commission has said that it will study the Heads of Bill and provide observations in due course.
Click here to see an article by the Irish Times.
Click here to see a paper discussing the merger by Senior Solicitor Michael Farrell which was delivered at a recent Council of Europe Anti-Racism Commission seminar.