Government recommends Appointments to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

The Cabinet has today (Tuesday) noted and accepted the recommendations of the Public Appointments Service (PAS) for the appointment of seven candidates to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), in line with the process laid out in Section 13 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014.

These recommendations, which resulted from an independent Public Appointments Service process, will now go forward for approval to the Houses of the Oireachtas and the President.

ENDS

The Department of Justice and Equality engaged the Public Appointments Service to carry out the selection of the best available candidates through the State Boards process. This process was carried out in compliance with both the State Boards guidelines and those of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014.

PAS appointed a selection panel, with no representative of the Department of Justice and Equality or Minister Charlie Flanagan TD on either the shortlisting panel or the interview board. The department consulted with both PAS and the Chief Commissioner of IHREC in agreeing the selection criteria and process for the filling of vacancies to the Commission.

The entire selection process itself; from the placing of the advertisement on the PAS website to the selection of the final list of seven names; was managed entirely by PAS. The department had no role or function in this process.

There were 149 applicants of a very high standard, with 15 shortlisted for interview and seven selected. Many fully qualified and eminently suitable candidates were not selected. PAS provided the government with details of the expertise of the persons it recommends for appointment.

The government has accepted those recommendations today.

For Appointment

Frank Conaty (second term) – Founder member of ‘Hope 4 Disability’, Chair of the National Parents & Siblings Alliance (2008-12), Fellow of the ICAI, Lecturer with NUIG.

Heydi Foster-Breslin (second term) – CEO of Misean Cara who work with vulnerable and marginalised communities across the globe, with particular focus on the needs of women and children, refugees, displaced people and people with disabilities. Non-Executive Director of Dóchas and formerly CEO of Exchange House National Travellers Service.

Salome Mbugua Henry – Former CEO and current Honorary President of AkiDwA (African & Migrant Women’s Network. Has been a board member of the National Women’s Council of Ireland, European Network of Migrant Women and member of the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women.

Prof. Caroline Fennell – Irish Research Council, Irish Council for Humanities and Social Sciences, Dean of UCC Law faculty and extensive experience with gender and equality rights in the criminal justice system.

Patrick Connolly – CEO Inclusion Ireland which represents persons with an intellectual disability and with expertise in the UN CRPD. In addition was CEO of Cairde, working with HIV/AIDS support groups along with many new communities to Ireland.

Tony Geoghegan – CEO of Merchants Quay Ireland, with expertise in homelessness, addiction and drug services, social inclusion and human rights.

Colm O’Dwyer S.C. – Chair of Ruhama who provide services to sex workers and victims of sex trafficking. Further experience as legal advisor to FLAC, Chair of the Bar Council Human Rights Committee, and with a practice working in Asylum and human rights law.

They will join Chief Commissioner Emily Logan and Commissioners Orlagh O’Farrell, Prof. Siobhan Mullally, Sunniva McDonagh, Teresa Blake, David Joyce, Prof. Ray Murphy, Fidele Muwarasibo, whose term will expire on 31 October 2019.