Joint Committee on Public Petitions to consider submitted petitions and discuss direct provision and related matters

The meeting at 12.30pm in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House will discuss Direct Provision Policy with:

·       Representatives from Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) – Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner; Colm O’Dwyer SC, Commission Member; Professor Kathleen Lynch, Commission Member.

·       Representatives from Law Society of Ireland – Stephen Kirwan, Human Rights and Equality Committee Member.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Martin Browne said: “The Committee looks forward to discussing direct provision policy and related matters with the representatives of the IHREC and the Law Society.

“Members will also consider a number of petitions, including one around a right to marry, a call for the Irish Government to support an international investigation into the August 2017 attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, and a request for a feasibility study into the ‘Dublin Loop’ underground autonomous vehicle transportation system.

“We also have petitions seeking to ‘dispel old illogical lunacy laws in Ireland’ and requiring ‘more than a simple majority to enact legislation that restricts the personal liberty of the population as a whole’.”

The Joint Committee on Public Petitions is a standing Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas and has 11 Members, seven from the Dáil and four from the Seanad.

The meeting in the Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.