Press release – Tuesday 5 June 2012
Ireland’s independent human rights watchdog, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has welcomed the publication of the General Scheme of the Bill and the Minister’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Working Group on the merger of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority.
ICCL Director Mr Mark Kelly said:
“The ICCL is pleased that the Minister has committed to expeditiously implement the recommendations of the working group on the establishment of a new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC).”
“The ICCL looks forward to providing detailed comments on the General Scheme of the Bill that the Minister has published today, paying particular attention to Head 13, which provides for the process by which the new Commission will be selected and appointed. Appointees to the IHRC must not only be, but be seen to be genuinely independent and the appointments procedure chosen should make a clean break with the culture of cronyism that has pervaded past public appointments in Ireland.”
For more information, please contact:
Walter Jayawardene
Communications Manager
Irish Council for Civil Liberties
9-13 Blackhall Place
Dublin 7
Tel. + 353 1 799 4504
Mob: +353 87 9981574
E-mail: walter.jayawardene@iccl.ie