I got this via email, and for those interested in the UN Human Right Council or Human Rights in Ireland should definitely attend these meetings. I am going to try and attend the Cork meeting and will try and tweet from it. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter T.D. and the Minister of State for Disability, Equality and Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch T.D. are inviting members of the public and organisations to take part in public consultation meetings to...
France is a bit of bother in the last week. Firstly there is the expulsion in mass of its Roma Residents, which has gotten France into trouble with the European Commission. Then the French Senate voted to ban the Niqab and Burka. France could be brought to the European Court of Human Rights, if the French Constitutional Court upholds the ban. This is not setting a good example in my opinion. The French are showing their intolerance of the...
There was some debate yesterday in the Seanad on the Civil Partnership Bill during the order of business. Fianna Fail Senators Labhrás Ó Murchú, Jim Walsh and John Gerard Hanafin raised objections to parts of the Bill and one called for a referendum. Also Fine Gael’s John Paul Phelan also spoke against part of the Bill. Senator Ó Murchú claimed that the Civil Partnership Bill 2009 would breach some people’s human rights, he even compared it to the Penal...
Image via Wikipedia There is a very large elephant in the room in Irish politics. It is a very important issue and it cause fierce tensions and divides, but not only in Ireland. I blogged a few years back that Ireland needs an Abortion Act and recent events are making that point more necessary! The recent poll in the Irish Examiner showing that “60% of young people want abortion legalised here” shows that young people do care about this...
So as an editor over on bloggingportal.eu I have great access to a huge number of blogs and can help choose what goes on the front page. Unfortunately not everything I would like can go on the front page (there are others there also) I will do a regularish posting like this one to publicise some of the other things going on in the euroblogosophere, whether on the front page or not! Dont expect this daily or weekly mind...
I got sent this list the other day, but due to events I am only posting it now. They are under a few caetgories and are linked! Democracy: I’m voting YES because Lisbon will give more power to the MEPs that I elect. (Articles 14 and 294)- More info: http://short.ie/24iwh2 I’m voting YES because I like the idea that when all of our governments meet and discuss things that affect me, they should do it in the open (Article...
Image via Wikipedia This was posted earlier today as a guest blog on the GenerationYes website The Lisbon Treaty will increase your rights. The Lisbon Treaty brings in two things which the EU has to take into account when making new directives and regulations. What are these things? The Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Charter of Fundamental Rights will bring together all the rights that have...
Today is the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The theme for the past year in the lead up to the 60th anniversary has been “Dignity and justice for all of us”. The UNDR has been translated into 360 languages allowing various UN and NGO organisations to spread the word about this important document which informs us of our rights. The Declaration has been translated into Gaeilge: Dearbhú Uile-Choiteann Cearta an Duine....
Via UN News Centre. Under General Assembly Resolution 60/251 (Which also established the Human Rights Counicl), the General Assembly mandated the Council to undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information, of the fulfillment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States; the review shall be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue, with the full involvement...
Voting Rights for the Irish Diaspora?
Image via Wikipedia The Irish Left Review picked up on an EU survey by GlobalIrish.ie on emigrant voting rights. Ireland is the only country in the 20 surveyed to have to voting rights for Diaspora or plans to bring it in. Greece is being forced to bring it in after a ruling by the ECHR. Will an Irish emigrant bring a case to try and force Ireland to change? Shouldn’t we change anyway? European Country – Vote at national...
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