CAT/C/IRL/CO/1
(d)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women, on 23 December 1985;
(e)
June 2010;
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, on 17
(f)
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially
Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime, on 17 June 2010;
(g)
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, on 18 June 1993;
(h)
Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human
Beings, on 13 July 2010.
5.
The Committee welcomes the enactment of the following legislation:
(a)
Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act of 2008;
(b)
International Criminal Court Act of 2006.
6.
The Committee also welcomes the development of the National Action Plan to
Prevent and Combat Trafficking of Human Beings in Ireland, 2009-2012.
7.
The Committee further welcomes the development of the National Strategy on
Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, 2010-2014.
C.
Principal subjects of concern and recommendations
Reduction of financial resources for human rights institutions
8.
While welcoming the commitment by the State party to provide resources for human
rights institutions, the Committee expresses concern at information received on the
disproportionate budget cuts to various human rights institutions mandated to promote and
monitor human rights, such as the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC), in comparison
to other public institutions. Furthermore, while noting the decision to move IHRC from the
Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to the Department of Justice and
Equality, the Committee regrets that IHRC does not have direct accountability to Parliament
and lacks financial autonomy (art. 2).
The Committee recommends that the State party should ensure that the current budget
cuts to human rights institutions, in particular the Irish Human Rights Commission, do
not result in the crippling of its activities and render its mandate ineffective. In this
regard, the State party is encouraged to strengthen its efforts in ensuring that human
rights institutions continue to effectively discharge their mandates. Furthermore, the
Committee recommends that the State party should strengthen the independence of
IHRC by, inter alia, ensuring its direct accountability to Parliament and financial
autonomy in line with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles).
Rendition flights
9.
The Committee is concerned at the various reports of the State party’s alleged
cooperation in a rendition programme, where rendition flights use the State party’s airports
and airspace. The Committee is also concerned at the inadequate response by the State party
with regard to investigating these allegations (art. 3).
The State party should provide further information on specific measures taken to
investigate allegations of the State party’s involvement in rendition programmes and
the use of the State party’s airports and airspace by flights involved in “extraordinary
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