Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to consider enacting legislation regarding human rights (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60441/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Matters relating to the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 fall within the remit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Responsibility for equality policy rests with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE).

I can, however, advise the Deputy that the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, contained in Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, applies to public bodies in the Republic of Ireland, placing a statutory obligation on public bodies to have regard to human rights and equality considerations in the performance of their functions. The duty supports a public service-wide approach to equality, human rights and inclusion.

Section 42 (1) states that public bodies shall, in the performance of their functions, have regard to the need to:

(a) eliminate discrimination,

(b) promote equality of opportunity and treatment of its staff and the persons to whom it provides services, and

(c) protect the human rights of its members, staff and the persons to whom it provides services.

Section 42(2) sets out the key steps a public body must take to support compliance with the statutory obligations under section 42 of the Act. These steps are to:

(a) carry out an assessment of the human rights and equality issues it believes to be relevant to the functions and purpose of the body (‘human rights and equality assessment’);

(b) put in place policies, plans and actions to address the issues identified in its human rights and equality assessment;

(c) publish its human rights and equality assessment, and the policies, plans and actions in place or proposed to be put in place to address the issues identified in that assessment, in a manner that is accessible to the public in its strategic plan, (howsoever described);

(d) report, in a manner that is accessible to the public, on developments and achievements – in respect of the policies, plans and actions in place or proposed to be put in place to address issues identified in its assessment - in its annual report (howsoever described).

The Act gives the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) powers to monitor and provide information, guidance and education to public bodies to understand and meet these statutory obligations.