Robinson takes State to task on human rights

FORMER UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson yesterday criticised the Government’s failure to make human rights part of Irish constitutional law, 52 years after we signed up to an international convention.

Ireland is one of the few countries that has not incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into domestic law, even though we signed this convention in 1950. Mrs Robinson, who is heading up a new international human rights body, said she was concerned it was taking so long: “It raises questions about the commitment to strengthen the protection of human rights here, particularly the rights to health, housing and education.”

One of the key requirements of the Good Friday Agreement was that there would be equal human rights provisions in Britain and Ireland, with both countries setting up their own Human Rights Commission.