Fears for human rights over ‘express’ tribunals plan

PLANS for quicker, less expensive forms of tribunals of inquiry may deny people the right to defend themselves, the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has warned.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell will publish legislation for the setting up of Commissions of Investigation before the Dáil takes its summer break. The commissions will be aimed at replacing the existing tribunals with non-statutory inquiries, requiring less time and public funding.

But Dr Maurice Manning, IHRC president, believes plans to hold such inquiries behind closed doors could raise questions over people’s right to defend themselves.