Government scores just 38% on human rights progress

28 March 2023

ICCL has published a new progress report assessing how the Government has performed against the human rights commitments it made in the Programme for Government.

With little progress made in a wide range of areas, the Government has a disappointing overall score of just 38%.

In particular, we are concerned about the Government’s commitments to improve conditions for asylum seekers in Ireland and to end direct provision. We cannot lose sight of our obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of everyone in this country.

The Government’s efforts to extend the powers governing Garda use of CCTV and Automated Number Plate Recognition, and to introduce Body Worn Cameras for Gardaí, are also a significant cause for concern given issues with Garda compliance with data protection law. The Government has gone even further than its Programme for Government commitment by setting out its intention to permit Gardaí to use facial recognition technology (FRT).

However, there are also grounds for hope. The Government has followed up on its commitment to introduce hate crime legislation. As chair of the Coalition Against Hate Crime, ICCL will continue to engage with the Oireachtas to ensure this legislation is fit for purpose, in line with human rights standards and reflects the experiences and needs of impacted communities.

In addition, last year the Government opened a new scheme for undocumented people living in Ireland to regularise their status, which has transformed the lives of thousands of people living in Ireland.

Speaking today, Liam Herrick, Executive Director of ICCL, said:

"This Progress Report is an important tool for us and all our fellow human rights campaigners and defenders to identify what progress has been made on human rights in the almost three years since the agreement of the Programme for Government, and where we should focus our advocacy efforts in the remaining period of this Government. It’s clear that Ireland still has significant progress to make if it is to become a country where all our rights are guaranteed without exception."