Commission presents evidence to Bill of Rights Committee at Stormont

Commission presents evidence to Bill of Rights Committee at Stormont

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has been invited to present evidence to the Ad Hoc Committee on a Bill of Rights today.

Dr David Russell, the Commission’s Chief Executive, will present the Commission’s 2008 Advice to the Secretary of State on A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland to the Committee.

NIHRC Chief Executive, Dr David Russell, said:

“I welcome this opportunity to present to the Ad Hoc Committee on a Bill of Rights. The political landscape has changed considerably since the Commission presented its Advice to the Secretary of State in 2008. Withdrawal from the European Union has removed some of the protections afforded by EU law. This notably includes access to the Court of Justice and the clear and straightforward application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

“In the absence of a Bill of Rights since the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, the Charter has arguably served as the instrument most closely aligned to the vision set out in 1998 of enforceable rights that supplement the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. In the present circumstances the reverse would be true if a Bill of Rights for NI is enacted. Put simply, a Bill of Rights may fill the gap that exists in our human rights architecture now and in the future.”

The Commission will present evidence to the Ad Hoc Committee at 2pm on Thursday 4th March. The session will be live streamed on the NI Assembly website, and can be accessed here.