24 May 2021
Representatives from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) are to go before the Oireachtas Health Committee tomorrow (Tuesday) to call for an urgent review of the emergency covid legislation. This is the bedrock law which allows for stay-at-home orders, bans on events, and restrictions on freedom of movement. It is due to lapse on 9 June, and government have proposed extending it for another six months without debate or review.
ICCL Executive Director Liam Herrick said
“It’s worth stepping back and remembering exactly how extraordinary these powers are. For over a year, it has been illegal for any of us to leave our homes without a reasonable excuse, or to gather with friends, or to attend a protest. As the risk posed by the pandemic begins to abate, it’s time for real democratic debate on the continuation of these powers.”
This legislation has already been renewed once without proper democratic oversight. There has never been a human rights review as demanded by our Constitution and international human rights law. At tomorrow’s hearing, ICCL will say Oireachtas debate and a legal rights review are key changes which must be secured.
The legislation gives the Minister for Health power to introduce legislation without consultation. Tomorrow, ICCL will emphasise that the Minister has so far not taken the obligations conferred by this power seriously. He has not conducted a review, he has made laws without consultation and has been late in publishing them, and at times presented guidelines as legal advice. This does not bode well for renewing another time.
ICCL’s Head of Legal and Policy, Doireann Ansbro, said
“The best protection for our human rights is democratic oversight. It is essential that we now return to the Oireachtas the power to make our laws. We need to end the extraordinary ministerial powers which we were told would only be temporary. There is no excuse anymore for avoiding democratic oversight. As the risk to life and health decreases, these powers should be gradually stepped down. Renewing them without debate or renewal for another six months would set a very dangerous precedent.”
ENDS/
Find ICCL’s opening statement here: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ICCL-opening-statement-to-Health-Committee-re-covid-emergency-powers.pdf
Watch ICCL’s appearance before the Health Committee at 11:30am on 25 May here: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/oireachtas-tv-channel/
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is Ireland’s oldest independent human rights campaigning organisation. We monitor, educate and campaign to secure human rights for everyone in Ireland.
For comment: Liam Herrick
For media queries: sinead.nolan@iccl.ie 087 4157162