An increase in responsibilities without an increase in budget could limit the abilities of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), the Council of Europe has warned.
The Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance has been monitoring developments in Ireland.
It praises a government action plan on racism, efforts by An Garda Síochána to process hate crimes and anti-bullying efforts in Irish schools, but also raises a number of concerns.
That includes questions about the human rights commission.
“The allocation of new mandates and functions to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) was not accompanied by adequate human and financial resources, negatively impacting on its effectiveness”, the Council of Europe warns.
Whilst the human rights commission’s budget has increased, from €6.5 million in 2017 to €8.4 million in 2024, its staff has nearly doubled and its responsibilities have also greatly increased, according to the report.
“The allocation of new mandates and functions to the IHREC was not accompanied by adequate and costed funding, nor by additional resources, thereby negatively impacting on IHREC’s effectiveness.”
IHREC has a dual status as Ireland’s national human rights institution and equality body. It is also the body designated for the purposes of Directive 2014/54/EU on measures facilitating the exercise of rights conferred on workers in the context of freedom of movement for workers. The Commission acts as the National Rapporteur on the Trafficking of Human Beings and as the independent mechanism for promoting and monitoring compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It also has a designate monitoring role for the Convention Against Torture.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has multiple responsibilities, says the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance has now recommended that the IHREC is given more funding to reflect the work it does.
“The authorities [should]: i) allocate sufficient human and financial resources to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) in order for it to carry out all its functions effectively; ii) take measures to strengthen the IHREC’s independence in the recruitment and appointment of its staff; and iii) strengthen cooperation with the IHREC in the field of equality and non-discrimination by replying to or taking action to implement the IHREC’s recommendations within a certain timescale.”
The ECRI was established by the Council of Europe as an independent human rights monitoring body specialised in questions relating to the fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance.
It is composed of independent members appointed, the Council of Europe says, “on the basis of their moral authority and recognised expertise in dealing with racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance.”
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has been asked for its response to the Council of Europe report.