“Budget cuts planned in Ireland may be detrimental for the protection of human rights. It is crucial to avoid this risk, in particular regarding vulnerable groups of people” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, in his report following his visit to Ireland in June 2011. The Commissioner calls on the authorities to protect the independence and effectiveness of national human rights structures, and to refrain from adopting budget cuts and staff reductions which would limit the capacity and effectiveness of these institutions. (more...)

Ireland and the Council of Europe