Beefed-up human rights body gets power of inquiry

A beefed-up human rights agency — combining two bodies into one — will have the power to hold its own inquiries under proposed legislation.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is to be granted strong powers to conduct investigations.

The new agency will replace the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority, whose merger was announced last October as part of the Government’s plan to axe State quangos.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter yesterday announced details of a general scheme, or heads, of a bill.

He said he had accepted all recommendations made by a working group, comprising members of the two bodies, to advise on the new body.

Mr Shatter said the bill would strengthen the powers of the commission, including provisions for effective inquiries. He said there would be an independent selection process to nominate people to the Government for appointment.

He said the legislation would impose an “express duty” on all public bodies to formally consider equality and human rights issues in their work.

The minister said the commission would have additional functions to raise awareness of multicultural Ireland and of integration of minorities.

“Our society will benefit from having a strong and effective human rights and equality body,” said Mr Shatter. “Sunlight is the best antiseptic.”

The minister said he was referring the heads to the Oireachtas Justice Committee to allow for further consultation and discussion.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties welcomed the heads, but stressed the appointments process should “make a clean break with the culture of cronyism that has pervaded past public appointments in Ireland”.