Human Rights
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-19
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Michael Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for foreign affairs and also justice as well. I take the point the Senator made at the outset. I will relay those points back through the system.
I want to underline Ireland’s long-standing and continued support for the European Convention on Human Rights and the role of the European Court of Human Rights as essential elements of the architecture of the rule of law in Europe. As a founding member of the Council of Europe, Ireland fully supports the Council’s essential role in promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law across Europe. We continue to advocate for and fully respect the independence and integrity of the court.
At the same time, as the Senator will be aware, there have been growing concerns among member states of the Council of Europe about ensuring a fair and effective migration system, while fully respecting the integrity of the European Convention on Human Rights, including the universality of human rights. Consequently, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe convened an informal conference of ministers of justice of the Council of Europe on 10 December to address these concerns. During this meeting, the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, reaffirmed Ireland’s support for the European Convention on Human Rights and for the European Court of Human Rights as vital components of the architecture of human rights protection and the rule of law right across Europe.
On the same day as the informal meeting of justice ministers, 27 member states, including Ireland, aligned with a joint statement that was delivered to the informal meeting of justice ministers. The joint statement reflects the concerns shared by many member states regarding the challenges arising in relation to migration and seeks to ensure that the convention is understood and applied in a way that protects fundamental rights, while at the same time recognising the contemporary challenges posed by the management of migration.
The significance of the convention as a core safeguard of the Good Friday Agreement is well recognised by the Government and by the current British government. We are unwavering in our determination to maintain that support.
As the Tánaiste said in Oxford in September of last year, “The ECHR’s guarantees cannot be negotiated away”. I can confirm that this unwavering determination to maintain the convention as a safeguard of the Good Friday Agreement was to the fore in the decision-making process around Ireland joining the December joint statement. In that regard, the joint statement notes the commitment of the signatories to international law and the European Convention of Human Rights as a cornerstone of this international order and reaffirms our commitment to the convention and our support for the work and independence of the European Court of Human Rights.
We remain committed to maintaining and upholding the convention, including on the island of Ireland where it is a cornerstone of the Good Friday Agreement, and respecting the vital work of the court in its efforts to uphold fundamental rights across Europe.
Ireland's decision to align with this joint statement was taken after careful consideration. The Government believes that it is important to acknowledge that the member states of the Council of Europe, including Ireland, are interested in ensuring a fair and effective migration system, while fully respecting the integrity of the convention, including the universality of human rights.
On foot of that informal conference of ministers of justice of the Council of Europe, the member states have agreed to work towards the adoption of a political declaration addressing contemporary migration challenges in the context of the European Convention on Human Rights, while ensuring full respect for the convention. This process is now being taken forward by the steering committee on human rights at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. We are following these developments extremely carefully. Ireland is actively engaged in discussions within the Council of Europe on the preparation of elements of this political declaration.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:39+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-19