Madam, - I am a member of the UK Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. Every week we scrutinise proposed legislation for its compatibility with international human rights standards.
Your report of March 2nd of the admirable work done by the Irish Human Rights Commission in commenting on the pending Immigration Bill brought to mind a visit my committee paid to Dublin to discuss the way in which we examine and report on pending legislation that has an impact on fundamental rights and freedoms.
We explained to the then minister for justice, Michael McDowell, and to members of the Dáil how a well-resourced and expert parliamentary committee, such as ours, can strengthen the role of the legislature in protecting human rights against oppressive legislation.
Like you, we have equality and human rights commissions which do vital work, and government lawyers consider whether proposed laws are compatible with international human rights law.
But we also have a committee of both houses of parliament which is independent of government and makes a real difference in promoting democratic accountability and effective safeguards against the abuse of power.
- Yours, etc,
ANTHONY LESTER (Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC), Blackstone Chambers, Temple, London EC4.