Seanad debates

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements

 

4:00 pm

Photo of Aideen HaydenAideen Hayden (Labour)

I also welcome the Tánaiste to the House. The Labour Party's approach has been one of simultaneously progressing human rights at home and in other countries. The Tánaiste has initiated a new phase. We are willing to take leadership positions in international bodies and to seek election to the UN Human Rights Council. One of the consequences of putting ourselves forward is that our record on human rights at home will receive greater scrutiny. Ireland's first universal periodic review has been very favourable in terms of our own performance.

On my specific area of interest which is housing and homelessness, as I am sure most Members are aware, that whole area of people in distressed situations has been a source of great distress at home and we have seen the direct conflicts of a right to property without a counter-balancing right to a home in our Constitution. I ask the Tánaiste in the context of the debate that will happen around the constitutional convention if he would favour Ireland including a right to a home as a counter-balance to a right to property within our Constitution. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence.

I wish the Tánaiste, in his chairmanship of the OSCE every success and in his efforts in securing Ireland a place on the UN Human Rights Council. It indicates a new looking approach to looking outside our own borders.

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