Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2013
25. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ensure that the legislation establishing the Human Rights and Equality Commission will make it accountable directly to the Oireachtas rather than his Department in order to ensure that it is compliant with the Paris Principles. [11564/13]
View answer37. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has plans for the merged human rights and equality body to take on the role of the disbanded National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11550/13]
View answer45. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way he intends to ensure that the merged Human Rights and Equality Commission will be fully compliant with the UN Paris Principles as is outlined in the Heads of Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11562/13]
View answer51. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff he will allocate to the merged human rights and equality body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11551/13]
View answer53. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to enable the new Human Rights and Equality Commission to more effectively, efficiently and cohesively champion human rights and equality. [11561/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 37, 45, 51 and 53 together.
I am entirely satisfied that all the elements of my proposals in relation to the establishment of the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) as set out in the General Scheme published last June are fully in accordance with the Paris Principles (which are the set of rules or standards that relate to the accreditation of National Human Rights Institutions for UN Purposes). I have consulted with the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and provided a detailed response to issues and questions raised with regard to the General Scheme by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). A high-level delegation met with the relevant OHCHR senior officials on 8 October 2012. This was a very positive meeting and addressed fully all the issues and concerns raised previously by the High Commissioner. The OHCHR consider that Ireland has engaged in a good process in the development of the new Commission; has full confidence that the Government is approaching the issue in the right way and considers our approach as a best practice model for other countries.
I am on record regarding my concerns in relation to the disproportionate budgetary cuts made to the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission in the past. I consider the fact that the provision for 2013 in the budget for the new IHREC of €4.409m is a significant achievement given the current financial pressures on the public purse. This level of funding maintains the combined 2012 level of Exchequer grant-in-aid funding of both bodies and demonstrates the Government's strong commitment to strengthening our institutional framework for promotion and protection of human rights and equality.
As a consequence of the merger of both bodies, bringing together and integrating two separate staff streams will be an initial task for the new Commission. Also the new Commission will as a priority task undertake a review of staffing needs and prepare a business case for any essential additional staff. Again I am on record as saying this will have funding implications, but will be considered as favourably as possible even in the current extremely difficult climate. The proposals in relation to functions as published in the General Scheme are designed to give the new body a wide mandate in promoting equality and human rights while also giving it effective legal powers of protection and enforcement to address issues at a systemic level and to assist individuals in vindicating their rights.
As regards the former National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism the new body will have a role in relation to integration issues with regard to migrants and also some of the functions of the Committee were subsequently absorbed into the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration, an office of my Department. In relation to direct reporting to the Oireachtas, I would refer the Deputy to Heads 19 and 20 of the published General Scheme of the Bill which addresses this detail.
