Seanad debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2003

European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Second Stage.

 

I have a series of questions about the Bill. I understood that the Good Friday Agreement was an agreement by the State to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into Irish law. Manifestly, we have not done that. Nobody is going to argue about that. It is not an incorporation, it is a smoothing and simplifying of the process and many of its elements are a significant improvement on what existed heretofore. For example, it is a huge improvement not to have to undergo the tortuous and expensive procedures that Senator Norris was obliged to go through in that area. It is also a major improvement on what my late friend, Josie Airey, had to go through to vindicate her rights. One hopes that – in contrast to the position 30 or 40 years ago – these things would not be necessary in our somewhat more responsive democracy because the Oireachtas would respond. Nevertheless, while it is a welcome simplification, it is not an incorporation.

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