UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights publishes Concluding Observations on the fourth periodic review of Ireland

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has published its Concluding Observations on the fourth periodic report of Ireland.

On 15 and 16 February 2024, Ireland engaged in a review process with the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the expert body responsible for examining Ireland’s implementation of the human rights obligations enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

Minister Joe O’Brien led a delegation of officials from 15 government departments, reflecting the wide range of rights enshrined in the Covenant. The review process provided an opportunity to take account of progress made in realising economic, social and cultural rights since the last review (in 2015), and for the Committee to make recommendations where further advancements can be made.

In the Concluding Observations, the Committee noted that Ireland had made positive progress in a range of legislative, administrative and policy areas, including through adopting the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021, Housing for All (2021-2030), Pathways to Work (2021-2025), the Roadmap for Social Inclusion (2020-2025), the Migrant Integration Strategy (2017-2020), and Sláintecare.

The Committee also noted areas where the State can take further steps, including to advance gender equality, improve data collection, further the business and human rights agenda, and combat discrimination.

In response to the Concluding Observations, Minister Joe O’Brien said:

As for next steps, the Committee has requested information on the implementation of some recommendations from the Concluding Observations by March 2026. Ireland’s next periodic report is due in March 2029.

Ireland is a strong supporter of the UN Treaty Body system. Treaty Body Committees play an important role in highlighting human rights issues in Ireland, and act as essential monitors of States’ implementation of the core international human rights treaties.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is a core international human rights instrument. It covers a full range of economic, social and cultural rights, such as non-discrimination, the right to work, the right to social security, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to education and the right to physical and mental health.

Upon ratification, States Parties undertake to report periodically to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the status of the Covenant’s implementation at domestic level. To date, Ireland has submitted four periodic reports (1996, 2000, 2012 and 2021). These are publically available on the website of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

As follow up to the fourth periodic review (15-16 February 2024), the UN Committee has prepared recommendations for Ireland in the form of ‘Concluding Observations’. These are also publically available on the OHCHR website.

Ireland’s delegation was led by Minister Joe O’Brien and comprised of officials from:

• Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• Department of Education
• Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
• Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
• Department of Health
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Department of Finance
• Department of Foreign Affairs
• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
• Department of Justice
• Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
• Department of Rural and Community Development (Minister O’Brien)
• Department of Social Protection
• Department of Transport