Justice and Public Service Oversight Committees to consider Ireland’s compliance with key ECHR article

The Oireachtas Committees on Public Service Oversight and Petitions and on Justice, Defence and Equality will meet jointly tomorrow to consider Ireland’s compliance with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which centres on the right to life.

9 June 2015

Addressing the Committees in joint session will be:

•     Dr Brian Farrell, Dublin District Coroner
•     Michael Finucane, solicitor
•     Mark Kelly, Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties
•     Dr Natasa Mavronicola, Lecturer in Law at Queens University Belfast

Chairman of the Public Service Oversight Committee Pádraig Mac Lochlainn says: “Articles 1 and 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, when read together, require a proper and adequate official investigation into deaths resulting from the actions of state agents, both from the use of lethal force, and also in situations arising from the negligence of agents that leads to a death. The meeting will explore the provisions of the Coroners Act and question witnesses on whether the current legislation giving effect to the Offices of the oversight bodies is standing up to that ECHR requirement.”

Justice Committee Chairman David Stanton TD says: “The Justice Committee sees tomorrow’s meeting as a timely opportunity to consider the extent to which Ireland is currently complying with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Committee Members look forward to attending the hearing and engaging with the variety of experts in an open-minded and constructive manner.”

The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 10 June at 9:30 am in Committee Room 2, Leinster House 2000.

Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

ENDS
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie