The Irish Human Rights Council (IRHC) has welcomed scrutiny of the State’s record on human rights by fellow members of the United Nations today.
Speaking after Minister for Justice Alan Shatter was questioned for almost three hours, IRHC president Dr Maurice Manning said the issues raised by fellow UN states had been ones highlighted by the council.
“I also welcome the statement by Minister Shatter that human rights must be at the heart of Irish policy,” he said.
Dr Manning said that Ireland’s actions on recommendations handed down by the council would show just how committed the Government was to that policy.
However, the Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) showed both surprise and disappointment at the lack of voluntary commitments made by the Government made at the review.
“We are surprised by that. Particularly with the new Government, you would think they would have some new attitudes regarding human rights,” ICCL deputy director Tanya Ward said.
Last week, Senator Katherine Zappone told The Irish Times that she could not see the rationale behind not making voluntary commitments and said it was totally unacceptable.
The Government, while pledging to move on certain treaties and a children’s referendum, did not make any new commitments at Geneva.
Ms Ward said: “The commitments that the Government did reaffirm lacked detail and timelines needed to follow up.
“One of the critical things that you could say of the Government today was that it was short on detail.
“That’s what’s missing from today’s performance,” she added.