European Convention on Human Rights
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-05
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Charlie McConalogue (FF), Donegal

I will ask the Department to respond directly to Senator Stephenson on any plans it has to engage with IHREC in advance of the meeting and also on her query in regard to previous consultations. As the Government has made very clear, Ireland's support for the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights is very strong. We see both as vital components of the European rule of law architecture. We are very conscious of the role the Council of Europe plays in promoting human rights.
Human rights are at the heart of Ireland's national policy and respect for and promotion of human rights continue to be a cornerstone of our foreign policy. We also view the European Convention on Human Rights as being at the core of human rights protection in Europe.
We will continue to engage in the ongoing discussions at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in order to reach a consensus among member states around a political declaration. We remain committed to maintaining and upholding the convention, including on the island of Ireland where it is a core safeguard of the Good Friday Agreement, and respecting the vital work of the court in its efforts to uphold fundamental rights and protections across Europe. I thank the Senator for raising this matter.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-05/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-05