Ireland is falling short on human rights, UN told

Ireland has much work to do to shore up its delivery of human rights, according to the Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, speaking before a top level United Nations committee.

Emily Logan was addressing the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, as part of the examination of Ireland’s Third Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.

In her speech, she raised serious concerns over the accountability of both public and private bodies charged with delivering services in the health, education and social sectors.

“Examples here include Direct Provision centres for asylum seekers, nursing homes for older people, day and residential services for persons with intellectual disabilities and care services for children – many of which are run on a for-profit basis,” said Ms Logan.

She also called for the setting up of a full Oireachtas Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and Equality, claiming it would create greater oversight at a time when the effects of austerity are still felt across many sections of society.

“While Ireland emerged from its agreement with the Troika at the end of 2013, we continue to see the effects of the recession in increased poverty rates for adults and children, high youth unemployment rates and a growth in food poverty,” she said.

In addition to issues regarding asylum seekers, Ms Logan also referred to in-work poverty in many households, with about 12% of workers falling below the poverty line. She also raised the issue of children being placed in adult mental health facilities.

“The Commission believes that the rise in family homelessness, and the overall lack of social housing, has been significantly exacerbated by the recession and government choices in this regard,” said Ms Logan.

She also referred to “barriers” facing people with disability in accessing their rights to health, education and other areas, adding: “While the State has committed to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we regret that it has not yet done so as ratification would signify a real commitment to persons with disabilities.”

Minister for development Sean Sherlock, in his address, said: “Tough choices had to be made by the Government, in the face of an unprecedentedly precarious financial situation. We acknowledge that considerable sacrifices were made by the people of Ireland throughout the financial crisis.”

Mr Sherlock said economic recovery would help ease the pressure felt by many Irish people and that the Government was committed to improving its delivery of services to those in need, including in terms of social housing which he said was a “key priority”.

A large number of civil groups, co-ordinated by the Free Legal Advice Centres, spoke before the UN committee on issues including housing and disability.