Judges must not be given extra burden

Even though this country signed the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) more than half a century ago, it has not yet been incorporated into our domestic law.

Former UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson complained that this delay raises questions about our government's commitment to human rights. Legislation will be implemented next year to give effect to the ECHR, but this does not go far enough, according to Mrs Robinson. She is calling for the convention to be incorporated into our domestic law so that the Irish courts and the new Human Rights Commission "would have a more secure basis on which to address issues of a right to education, health, housing and tackling poverty and division."

Our courts have enough to do already without putting the onus on them of interpreting laws passed elsewhere in relation to poverty, health, housing and education. If there are deficiencies in our laws in relation to human rights, they should be addressed by the Oireachtas, rather than the courts. Our judges are already overextended doing the work of investigators on the various judicial tribunals.