Ireland guilty on human rights, says watchdog

Ireland has been criticised for its non-implementation of human rights, across a range of areas, by a key European human rights watchdog.

In its report, the European Council against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), says that although progress has been made since the last bulletin in 2001, "a number of recommendations have not been implemented".

The ECRI is established by the Council of Europe but is independent of it.

The survey, published yesterday, is part of a country-by-country round of reports. In this third round the council focuses on the record of each member state in implementing recommendations from previous reports.

The council says the provisions in the European Convention on Human Rights for a general prohibition on discrimination have not been ratified here. It notes the Equal Status Acts still do not protect people against discrimination by local and central government.

It continues that "the criminal legislation has not been amended to include sufficiently strong provisions for combating racist acts which affect in particular visible minorities and Travellers".

And more needs to be done to raise awareness among potential victims of race crime and discrimination of ways to seek redress.

"There is also still a need for the establishment of policies aimed at integrating asylum seekers and refugees into society."

Referring to the policy of placing asylum seekers in direct provision centres and giving them payments of €19.10 per week, the report says: "[ The] ECRI reiterates its recommendation that the Irish authorities consider enabling asylum seekers to engage in paid employment and recommends that the allowance provided to asylum seekers be equality and poverty-proofed."

It refers to the estimated 165 nationalities now in the labour force and praises "a number of important initiatives" taken by government and trade unions "to raise awareness of the need for a more inclusive workplace".

"A number of problems remain, however, in particular with regard to the working conditions of lower skilled migrant workers." The Employment Permits Act (2006) "requires close monitoring in order to ensure that its implementation addresses some of the problems faced by non-Irish workers in the workplace, such as racism and discrimination".

It gives considerable attention to the situation of the State's only indigenous ethnic minority - Travellers - under headings including employment, education and housing. The committee is "pleased to note" a number of "important steps to address the problems Travellers continue to face in the education system", though "some major challenges remain".

Just 58 per cent of Traveller children progress to post-primary education and their achievement there is "substantially below the national average".

The report recommends current measures to improve integration be strengthened. It also "strongly recommends" that anti-trespass legislation, enacted in 2002, under which local authorities may evict Travellers encamped on public land, "be reviewed and amended where necessary to prevent Travellers being further disadvantaged with regard to access to housing".

It notes concern that the delivery of Traveller accommodation "has not been adequate in some areas" and says authorities, including central government, "should undertake a more proactive policy".

On the role of the media, it refers to concern from the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) that some outlets portray asylum seekers, refugees, migrant workers, Travellers and black and ethnic minorities in a negative light, and recommends this be addressed.

While praising the establishment and the remit of several bodies such as the Equality Authority, the NCCRI, the National Action Plan Against Racism, and the Irish Human Rights Commission, the council is concerned these are understaffed and underfunded. It also recommends completion of the current review of the Prohibition of the Incitement to Hatred Act (1989) "as soon as possible" and ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of All Migrant Workers.