FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/
Call for Government to invest 0.01% of Budget in Human Rights
7 October 2021
As the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) launches our first ever pre-budget submission, we are calling on the government to ring-fence €8.8 million to help secure key human rights provisions and to ensure the state can guarantee these rights to everyone living in Ireland.
Speaking at a launch event for politicians and lawmakers, ICCL Director Liam Herrick said:
“The pandemic has shown us where underinvestment in key areas such as acute hospitals and childcare can come back to haunt society. On the other hand, we have seen with the very successful vaccine programme how effective targeted investment can pay huge dividends to society. Our Budget asks for 2022 are modest and targeted in such a way that will achieve a maximum return on investment in the form of enhanced procedural, data, political and other rights being strengthened and protected. “
In our “Investing in Rights” Budget 2022 submission, ICCL has focused on four areas of our work where we believe investment would pay real dividends.
- Reform of the coroner system would provide compassion and justice for the bereaved, at a cost of €270,000.
- An Electoral Commission which would iron out glaring issues in our democratic system would cost €3million.
- Reform of the Data Protection Commission, leading to a cleaner internet for all, would cost €3million.
- Policing and judicial refom, leading to a fairer and more transparent system for all of us, would cost €3.7million.
Mr. Herrick went on to explain the asks are grounded in individuals’ practical experiences of how rights are realised in Ireland in 2021:
“The vindication of rights is only as strong as the institutions that can realise and defend them. Our asks focus on reforming, establishing or better equipping institutions which either act as watchdogs for our rights or serve to defend our civil liberties. The total amount we are seeking to be invested in 2022 is roughly €8.8 million, this is 0.01% of the projected government spend on Budget Day. These investments will save money in the long term as they will strengthen state institutions which uphold and protect human rights and hopefully prevent the need for costly investigations in the future.”
ENDS/
Notes for Editors:
The full ICCL pre-Budget 2022 Submission: “Investing in Rights” can be seen here.
Read a recent ICCL op-ed regarding DPC reform: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/we-must-reform-our-data-protection-commission-1.4690041
ICCL will launch our Budget submission on Thursday October 7th between 09:30-12:30.
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 queries: sinead.nolan@iccl.ie