The Department is aware of the submission by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in relation to the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the Louise O’Keeffe case. A number of other submissions have also been made in relation to the case. Given that the State is a party to the case and are tasked with implementing it's findings we are not commenting on this submission.
States are required to keep the Committee of Ministers informed of all developments as regards implementation of a judgment by way of lodging Action Plans, initially within six months of a judgment, and as necessary thereafter. To date, Ireland has lodged six Action Plans with the Council of Europe (July 2014, January 2015, July 2015, January 2016, July 2016 and January 2017) setting out the steps being taken to implement the judgment. A further Action Plan must be filed by 28 July 2017.
In June 2016, the Committee of Ministers decided that, in view of the progress achieved to date, to continue their supervision under the standard procedure rather than the enhanced procedure. This means that the Council of Europe secretariat, rather than the Committee of Ministers, are now supervising the implementation of the judgment.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the judgment is implemented fully and expeditiously.
