Irish human rights body raises concerns at UN on State policies

THE IRISH Human Rights Commission presented a report to the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva yesterday outlining its concerns about Government policies.

In particular, commission member Roger Sweetman SC expressed concern about the extension of periods of detention of suspects and the lack of access to a solicitor.

He also drew attention to over-crowding and poor physical conditions in Irish prisons, along with a lack of health and education services, and the retention of the Special Criminal Court.

Referring to the removal from the State of asylum-seekers, he said: "Where people to be removed are not given notice, it may be difficult or impossible for them to instruct lawyers and challenge their removal. Safeguards in current Irish law in relation to removal from the State should not be changed, to ensure that any removal is proportionate and does not place the person at risk of refoulement [sending to an unsafe country] or deny them access to justice."

He also drew attention to a proposal in the Charities Bill not to recognise for charitable purposes organisations campaigning for "political causes", which could include human rights; and the refusal of the State to recognise Travellers as an ethnic minority, which would give them protection from discrimination.

Civil and political rights

THE INTERNATIONAL Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was adopted by the United Nations in 1966 and ratified by Ireland in 1989.

Under it, the Human Rights Committee (HRC) seeks reports from ratifying states every five years. Ireland presented its first report in 1993, and this is its third.

The HRC has repeatedly expressed concern that not all covenant rights are guaranteed by Irish law. In particular, Ireland has expressed reservations about Article 20, prohibiting hate speech, and has not legislated to give effect to the covenant in Irish law.

The HRC encourages local human rights NGOs to prepare "shadow reports" on human rights in their countries, to assist it in questioning the ratifying states. That reporting took place yesterday and continues today in Geneva.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times