Updated / Monday, 27 Apr 2020 04:01 Acting Chief Commissioner Tony Geoghegan said that the Covid-19 has impacted some people more than others (File image) The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has made a number of recommendations to ensure human rights are upheld in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Last Friday, the IHREC met…

IHREC to recommend oversight of Covid-19 legislation


Updated / Monday, 27 Apr 2020 04:01

Acting Chief Commissioner Tony Geoghegan said that the Covid-19 has impacted some people more than others (File image)
Acting Chief Commissioner Tony Geoghegan said that the Covid-19 has impacted some people more than others (File image)

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has made a number of recommendations to ensure human rights are upheld in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

Last Friday, the IHREC met on as part of its ongoing consideration of the human rights and equality implications of the Covid 19 crisis.  

Arising from its deliberations, the Commission made recommendations and said it intends to pursue some matters.

The Commission considers that more information is required to assess whether new powers under emergency legislation introduced in response to Covid-19 are being exercised proportionately, and whether they are being implemented in line with human rights and equality principles. 

The Independent body is going to contact the Garda Commissioner for detailed data to consider how the implementation of the legislation is impacting people in different sectors of society.

It has also called for parliamentary oversight of the implementation of emergency legislation introduced in response to Ciovid-19. Failing that it has called on an Oireachtas Committee to examine this.

In line with its mandate to keep law and practice as they relate to human rights and equality under review, the IHREC will keep the exercise of emergency legislation and other State responses to the Covid-19 crisis under active review.

Following the Commission’s meeting on Friday, Acting Chief Commissioner Tony Geoghegan said that the Covid-19 crisis has impacted some members of our society more acutely than others.

“As we move into a phase where we are going to be living with the threat of this virus for some time, it is critical that the principle of equality and the dignity afforded by human rights are central to efforts to keep people safe and healthy,” he added.

Read More

About No Specific Author

Check Also

Coronavirus: Latest on COVID-19 from around the world

Coronavirus: Latest on COVID-19 from around the world

Almost 18 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally, and 685,000 have now died. Nearly 300,000 people were reported infected in the past 24 hours and 6400 dead. Here are the latest developments from around the world. Europe Ireland Ireland's chief medical officer on Saturday described a recent spike…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Simon says web design – simon says web design. Surviving the storm : how small businesses navigate through covid’s impact.