IN A TIME of economic downturn, protections for the most vulnerable members of society should not be eroded, the president of the Irish Human Rights Commission, Dr Maurice Manning, said at the launch of the commission’s report for 2007 in Dublin yesterday.
Noting that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was conducting a review of the State’s national human rights infrastructure in light of the current deterioration in public finances, Dr Manning said: “It is in times of economic difficulty that people in vulnerable situations often need the most protection. We obviously recognise the extent of the economic crisis.
“We share the Government’s concern that there should not be overlap or duplication, that agencies in this area be effective, efficient and responsible.
“We certainly have been open and positive in our response to the challenge, guided by one principle and one consideration only – that there should be no dilution in the protection of human rights in our society.”
Dr Manning said the Irish commission “is seen increasingly by the UN as a model for others to follow, as then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern hoped it would be when he launched the commission back in 2001”.
He added the commission had its unique legal basis and origins in the Belfast Agreement.
“I greatly welcome the reassurance of Minister [for Justice] Dermot Ahern in the Dáil last week that there will be no dilution in the equivalent mandates and remit of the two commissions” (ie on both sides of the Border).
Commenting on indications that Mr Ahern favoured co-operation between agencies over an outright merger, Dr Manning told The Irish Times the commission would be keen to co-operate to achieve savings.
“There is a very clear desire to co-operate on the part of all agencies. They recognise the realities of the situation. In terms of the scale of things, I’m not sure how big it is.
“We have one administrative person for 17 staff and there’s not a huge amount of excess fat there. I suppose the problem is, we’d need to see what’s being proposed. I wouldn’t say there are big savings.”
Dr Manning also said: “It is possible that some of the inquiry functions of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority, that there could be overlap there and we would look at that very carefully. That’s the only place.”
Last year marked the first year of the commission’s second strategic plan (2007-2011), Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in Ireland.
“A central theme running through the plan is the importance of creating a culture and ethos of respect for human rights throughout Irish society in our efforts to embrace diversity and promote justice, equality and inclusion,” Dr Manning added.
He continued: “We have sought to underpin our work with two key principles – independence and objectivity. In this context we continued to address issues we felt had a strong human rights dimension meriting close scrutiny, even where this may have caused discomfort for some.”
