Ireland's human rights watchdog has called on political parties forming the next government to safeguard rights in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter sent to party leaders, acting chief commissioner Tony Geoghegan said Ireland's "legal human rights and equality norms" should "cont
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British citizenship laws should be rewritten to allow people born in Northern Ireland to choose whether to be treated as a British citizen or as an Irish citizen, a new report has recommended. London barrister Alison Harvey of No5 Chambers produced the legal analysis for the Irish Human Rights and E
Organisations working on human rights and equality issue have been invited to apply to the Human Rights and Equality Grant Scheme 2020. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will award small grants of up to €6,000 and general grants of up to €20,000 to support activities in Irelan
Ireland should take measures to improve women's representation in the judiciary and in leadership roles at law firms, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has said. In a submission to the Citizens' Assembly, which is currently examining the issue of gender equality in Ireland, the
The national driver's license agency has been found guilty of discrimination on race grounds against an asylum seeker for the second time in a month. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission took the case to the Workplace Relations Commission on behalf of a single mother living in a rural Dire
The Supreme Court is hearing an appeal from two people who came to Ireland as refugees but subsequently naturalised as Irish citizens and were subsequently denied access to the family reunification scheme. Ms Justice Marie Baker, sitting in the Court of Appeal, ruled against 'MAM' and 'KN' last May.
A significant case concerning the lawfulness of the process under which Irish citizenship can be revoked will be considered by the Supreme Court under an expedited process. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission was today granted the role of amicus curiae in the case, Ali Charaf Damache v th
An asylum seeker suffered indirect discrimination when he was refused a learner driver license, the Workplace Relations Commission has ruled. An adjudicator ordered €2,500 in compensation to be paid to the man, who was legally represented by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC
The Supreme Court has set out how separated parents exercising joint custody of their children should be treated when applying for social housing assistance in a judgment welcomed by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC). The human rights watchdog exercised its role as amicus curiae
New hate speech offences should be introduced to strengthen community cohesion in Ireland, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has said. The human rights watchdog has published its submission to the Department of Justice's consultation on the Incitement to Hatred Act 1989.
A key UN committee has backed calls for Ireland's civil legal aid scheme to be expanded to help combat racial discrimination in employment and welfare. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has issued its recommendations to the Government following a formal examination of Stat
Judicial discretion in sentencing does not effectively deal with hate crime because the hate motivation "is prone to becoming invisible at various stages of the criminal justice process", Ireland's human rights watchdog has warned. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has produced a compre
A separated father-of-three who was deemed ineligible for social housing with space for his children suffered a violation of his rights, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has said. The human rights watchdog yesterday appeared as amicus curiae in a Supreme Court case which seeks to clari
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has welcomed the start of an open process for eight upcoming appointments to the Commission. The human rights watchdog had earlier called on the Government to ensure the process is carried out in line with international standards for an open and transpa
The human rights watchdogs north and south of the border have met to review human rights issues on the island of Ireland in light of recent Brexit proceedings. Representatives of the joint committee of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission me