"Human rights policing vacuum as merger crawls to a conclusion" April 8 2013
The Equality and Rights Alliance, a coalition of 171 civil society groups, reports a steady dismantling of Ireland’s equality and human rights infrastructure since 2008. The change in government and announcement of the merger in late 2011 appears to have done little to reverse this process.
'Concern Over Rights Body Bill' June 30, 2012
In its submission to the Oireachtas committee, the ERA states that the appointment of Ms Dempsey “removes autonomy from the commission to appoint its own director as recommended by the working group reporting to the Minister on the merger”.
'Labour Party Must Return to Being Equality & Rights Defenders' June 12 2012
Civil society groups have been campaigning collectively, under the banner of the Equality and Rights Alliance, to protect the infrastructure since the massive cuts imposed by the previous government in 2009. Two weeks ago they sent a petition, signed by over 70 NGOs and trade unions, to Alan Shatter calling on him to ensure that four key standards are met to ensure the effective and independent functioning of the new body. So far they have received no response from the minister