Vol. 560 No. 1
803 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will meet with the Irish Human Rights Commission to discuss its concerns regarding the proposed European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001 prior to the Committee Stage debate on this legislation; if not, the reasons therefor; and if so, if he will consider incorporating its recommendations for amending the Bill as drafted. [27139/02]
Both the Human Rights Commission and I are well aware of our respective positions on this issue. Following publication of the European Convention on Human Rights Bill, I had a comprehensive meeting with representatives of the commission, at their request, when I was Attorney General. At that meeting we discussed the policy and background underlying the drafting of the Bill. The commission has since published its views on the matter, based on the submission it made on the Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.
While I am always willing to meet the commission, and I have had a meeting with members of the commission since my appointment as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, it has not sought a further meeting with me on the issue of the Bill. In any event its views, as well as those of the other bodies who have made submissions to the joint committee, will, I am sure, be discussed on Committee Stage of the Bill.
