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Written question asked by Lord Laird (Non-affiliated) on Monday, 27 March 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 April 2017. It was answered by Lord Dunlop (Conservative) on Monday, 3 April 2017 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Human Rights: Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the government of the Republic of Ireland ensures an equivalent level of protection for human rights in Ireland to that established in Northern Ireland by the Belfast Agreement 1998; and if not, what actions they propose.

Answer

The Belfast Agreement commits the Irish Government to ensuring an equivalent level of protection for human rights in Ireland to that established in Northern Ireland by the Agreement.

As a result of this commitment, the Irish Government established the Irish Human Rights Commission, which in November 2014 merged with the Equality Authority to form the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, like the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, is a UN ‘A status’ accredited National Human Rights Institution, structured and operated in accordance with the Paris Principles.

The commitment to ensure an equivalent level of protection for human rights in Ireland to that established in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Irish Government.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL6353
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Belfast Agreement Human rights Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk