Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
43. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on his recent engagement with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19767/23]
View answerI met with the Chief Commissioners of both the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) in Belfast on 11 April.
These are two important institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement.
We discussed a number of common concern, including the provisions of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. That article includes an undertaking that the UK's withdrawal from of the EU should entail no diminution of the rights, safeguards or equality of opportunity provided for in the Good Friday Agreement. We also shared concerns about the the UK Legacy Bill currently progressing through Westminster, and I updated them on my recent engagements, including with victims and representative groups.
It is regrettable that, as we celebrate twenty-five years of the Good Friday Agreement, certain key human rights provisions remain unfulfilled, in particular a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and a consultative Civic Forum. Although progress has been made on both of these issues, further developments are contingent on the formation of the Northern Ireland Executive.
This stalled progress on key human rights provisions is one of the reasons that it is essential that the parties come together to establish an Executive. I emphasised that the Government is working closely with our UK counterparts and partners in Northern Ireland, to support a return of the institutions.
It was agreed that officials will stay in contact with both Commissions as we move forward.
