25 Feabh 2014, 14:10
Later this year, the Government will present a key report on civil and political rights in Ireland to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
24 February 2014
The Seanad Public Consultation Committee is inviting written submissions from interested groups or individuals on Ireland’s performance in this area under international law.
Ireland’s Fourth Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) will be formally presented to the Human Rights Committee in July 2014 and the Seanad Select Committee is inviting public submissions on the priorities and challenges facing Ireland in complying with these obligations. The Committee will consider all written submissions and may decide to invite a number of contributors to public hearings, which will take place in the Seanad Chamber.
Committee Chairman Senator Denis O’Donovan says: “The ICCPR, which commits signatories to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, is a cornerstone of international law and forms part of the International Bill on Human Rights. The Covenant states that the right to self-determination is universal and calls upon States to promote the realisation of that right through respecting the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial.
“With the Irish Government due to present a formal progress report later this year, it is timely that our cross-party Committee seeks the views of interested individuals and organisations on how well Ireland is meeting these obligations. The call for submissions on this important topic follows a very successful series of hearings on the rights of older people, curbing cancer through lifestyle changes and fostering social entrepreneurship.”
The Committee was founded in September 2011 to strengthen dialogue between Seanad Éireann and the public on a wide range of subjects in the area of public policy.
The closing date for receipt of submissions is 21 March 2014. Have your say and make a submission.
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: 087 6949926
E: paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee
Senators Ivana Bacik, Paul Bradford, Paul Coghlan, Maurice Cummins, Mark Daly, Lorraine Higgins, Marie Lousie O’Donnell, Denis O’Donovan (Chairperson), David Norris, Susan O’Keeffe and Mary White