Northern Ireland Office

Paul Goggins MP today received the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission’s statutory advice on the potential for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland from Chief Commissioner, Monica McWilliams.

Speaking after the handover of the Commission’s report on International Human Rights day the Minister said: “I have today received statutory advice from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on the potential for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.  I am grateful for the work that has gone into the preparation of this report and look forward to reading its recommendations.

“I recognise that there is a diverse range of opinion on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.  Once Government has had an opportunity to properly consider the advice we will consult publicly on this issue before deciding how to move forward.”

Notes to Editors:

1.         The Good Friday Agreement tasked the NI Human Rights Commission

(NIHRC) with advising the Secretary of State on “the scope for defining, in

Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the ECHR, to reflect

the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland”. 

2.         The Commissioners are; Professor Monica McWilliams (Chief Commissioner), Jonathan Bell, Thomas Duncan, Anne Hope, Professor Colin Harvey, Alan Henry, Eamonn O’Neill, Geraldine Rice, Lady Daphne Trimble and Colm Larkin.