§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Given that under Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, human rights is an excepted matter in Northern Ireland, why the Department of Education in the Northern Ireland Executive is able to (a) hold a conference on human rights (b) appoint an advisory teacher to work in the Children's Law Centre and (c) appoint five teachers to work in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, whose staffing is the responsibility of the Government under paragraph 4 of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. [HL1109]
§ Lord Williams of MostynParagraph 3(c) of Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 makes it clear that,
17WAobserving and implementing international obligations, obligations under the Human Rights Convention and obligations under Community law",are not excepted matters.There is nothing in the Northern Ireland Act to preclude the devolved administration from holding events with a human rights theme. Indeed, the Northern Ireland departments are public authorities for the purposes of the Human Rights Act and under Section 24 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 are obliged to ensure that they do not act in any way that is incompatible with the convention rights. Similarly, any appointments made by the Northern Ireland Executive are a matter for them.
While the staffing of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission requires the approval of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, there is no prohibition on the commission collaborating with outside sources to aid it in its work.