The treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers in this country could have a bearing on how the South was perceived by those who constituted the majority in Northern Ireland, Dr Maurice Hayes (Ind) suggested.
He welcomed the Bill to establish a human rights commission, particularly because it was part of the Good Friday agreement.
"We are fortunate in living under a written constitution . . . However, it is important, for the sake of symmetry, that the same regimes apply North and South in relation to human rights and that human rights are not seen as something to be used to keep people in control and subjection `up there' and as being unnecessary `down here'.
"This is particularly so in terms of the protection of minorities here, which majorities in Northern Ireland will be looking at with some interest.
"The events of the past few months, in relation to refugees and asylum-seekers, illustrate the fact that when put under pressure, people here can react in ways that are perhaps not as generous or as thoughtful as we would like."
Human rights protection was needed for these people also. Ireland, of all nations, which had sent its people to countries throughout the world in search of employment, should be the last to create difficulties for refugees.
Dr Hayes said he hoped it was not fore-ordained that the president of this organisation would be a judge.
"There are people in Ireland who have an honourable record of advocacy of human rights and of practical work in defence of human rights. I hope they will be considered and that their names will appear in the final listing."