Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 2

Written Answers. - British-Irish Agreement.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

83 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the role his Department will have in setting up a human rights commission as provided for in the British-Irish Agreement. [12557/98]

As I indicated in the course of my reply to questions on 14 May 1998, the Government made a commitment in the British-Irish Agreement to establish a human rights commission whose mandate and remit will extend to keeping the adequacy and effectiveness of laws and practices under review, making recommendations to Government as necessary, providing information and promoting awareness of human rights, considering draft legislation as required, and, in appropriate cases, bringing court proceedings or providing assistance to individuals doing so.

Work on the establishment of a human rights commission is now being taken forward by my Department. This will involve extensive contact and co-operation with the relevant agencies in the neighbouring jurisdictions in view of the commitments both Governments have entered into to make comparable changes in this area.

Top
Share