Shatter to be quizzed on human rights obligations

JUSTICE Minister Alan Shatter will today be cross-examined on Ireland’s human rights obligations — civil, political, economic, social and cultural — at a hearing which is the first of its kind for this country.

The hearing in Geneva is the first time Ireland’s human rights record is being reviewed by peers, a panel drawn from UN states rather than expert groups.

The process is part of the UN’s universal periodic review mechanism, an initiative set up in 2006 whereby the domestic human rights records of all 192 member states are reviewed every four years.

Mr Shatter can be questioned on anything contained in one of three reports — a state report, a UN report and a stakeholder report, as well as information provided by stakeholders such as the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

IHRC submitted its own report to the UN in March 2011.

In it, the group made concrete recommendations on improvements needed in relation to the rights of Travellers, migrants and asylum seekers, women, children, people with disabilities, people in poverty and prisoners, among others.

The IHRC report also dealt with broad legislative and policy areas including health, education, immigration, criminal justice, and social welfare.

Maurice Manning, the IHRC president, said the hearing was a key opportunity for the Government to make positive human rights changes in Ireland.

“It is not acceptable that important human rights treaties that would increase protections for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, migrant workers and people held in detention remain to be ratified,” he said.

“The IHRC has raised its concerns with member states of the Human Rights Council urging them to make strong recommendations for change and so compel Ireland to address the deficiencies in human rights protection.”

Following the hearing, an “outcome report” is prepared after which Ireland must choose or reject recommendations.

Both accepted and refused recommendations are included in the report.

Residents of Dolphin House in Dublin, who have experienced grey and black wastewater repeatedly backing up into household fixtures such as sinks, showers, baths and washing machines for about 20 years, are hoping their case will be raised with the minister.

Advance questions seen by the Irish Examiner show that two countries have asked how the Government intends to address the right to a termination of pregnancy under Irish law in certain urgent medical cases.