Human Rights Commission (Hansard, 24 March 1999)

§ 8. Jane Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received relating to the Human Rights Commission's work. [76686]

§ Marjorie Mowlam
The Government have received no representations relating to the work of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission since it was established on 1 March. However, during the passage of the Northern Ireland Bill, we received many representations from interested parties on what the functions and powers of the Commission should be. These were fully debated in Parliament and the Government introduced a number of amendments to the Bill to reflect the representations that had been made.

§ 20. Fiona Mactaggart
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the work of the Human Rights Commission. [76698]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was formally established on 1 March under the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Chief Commissioner is Professor Brice Dickson, and there are nine part-time Commissioners. The establishment of the Commission is the central feature of the additional protections for human rights in Northern Ireland which are envisaged in the Belfast agreement. The Government believe that it will be a powerful force in developing, through education and research, an active human rights culture in Northern Ireland. One of its early functions will be to advise on a possible Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. How the commission carries out its various responsibilities is a matter for the commission itself to determine.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the interview panel for appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission recommended only the persons ultimately appointed. [77985]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
The two interview panels put forward recommendations on all those interviewed which numbered eight for the Chief Commissioner part and 23 for the Commissioner parts.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria were adopted to ensure that the human rights commissioners appointed were representative of the community as a whole. [77982]
282W

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, in placing advertisements widely and issuing a press release, ensured that applications were received from as wide a selection of people as possible. The sift criteria for interview were adopted to ensure that the best candidates were interviewed. The Secretary of State then appointed a Chief Commissioner and Commissioners making a judgment about the group as a whole being representative of the community in Northern Ireland. She is satisfied that the statutory requirement has been met.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria were used for shortlisting applicants for membership of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; who carried out the shortlisting; and what consultation was undertaken with(a) the Irish Government and (b) others regarding shortlisting. [77984]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
Shortlisting was carried out by the three members of the interview panel using the following two criteria:

(a) the candidate's record of achievement in their chosen field, and

(b) evidence from their application form of a good grasp of human rights.
The panel did not consult with anyone in drawing up the shortlist.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the advertised requirements for the appointment of Northern Ireland's Human Rights Commission; and if these requirements were discussed with(a) the Irish Government and (b) the Secretariat at Maryfield. [77981]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
Copies of the advertisements will be placed in the Library of the Houses. The details were not discussed with either the Irish Government or the Secretariat at Maryfield.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whom she consulted prior to agreeing the appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [77986]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
The Secretary of State discussed the recommendations of the two interview panels with the Chairmen of those panels. She did not consult anyone else prior to appointing the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners.