Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Last December the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission handed over its advice to the British Government on the preparation of a consultation document for a Bill of rights for Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach is aware that this is a significant part of the Good Friday Agreement. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is now concerned that the consultation document will not be published in advance of a British general election because the timeline is short. Again, according to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Conservative Party has made it clear that it proposes to replace the Human Rights Act 2000 with a United Kingdom Bill of rights and responsibilities, which would include Northern Ireland.

As the Taoiseach is aware, a Bill of rights for Northern Ireland is an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement. Has he had any discussions with his counterpart, Prime Minister Brown, or has his officials discussed this issue at official level? If an election takes place in Britain and there is a change of government and if the Conservative Party wishes to introduce a new Bill to replace the Human Rights Act 2000, this would mean what is in the Good Friday Agreement would be changed. Does the Taoiseach have a concern about this? Does he have any information about whether the consultation paper will be published before a British general election? Does he consider that would be important given that he had a part in the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement being concluded, of which this is an integral part?

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