HL Deb 09 January 2003 vol 642 c231WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 November (WA173) concerning the Human Rights Commission in the Republic of Ireland, what is meant by the "Good Friday Agreement"; whether this is the Belfast Agreement; if so, what they consider the appropriate title to be; and what is meant in the answer by "(North and South)". [HL356]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland is referred to as both ("The Belfast Agreement") and the ("Good Friday Agreement"). References to North and South within the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 November (WA173) relate to the geographical jurisdictions of Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of the undertaking in the Belfast Agreement of 1998 signed by the Government of the Irish Republic in which the Irish Government said they would take steps to further strengthen the protection of human rights to at least an equivalent level of protection as in Northern Ireland, what steps have been taken to date. [HL358]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The steps which have been taken by the Irish Government in accordance with the obligations set out in the section entitled "Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity" in the Belfast Agreement include: establishment of a Human Rights Commission as provided for in the Human Rights Commission Acts 2000 and 2001; preparation of legislation (European Convention on Human Rights Bill, 2001) which is currently before the Dail to give further effect to the convention of Irish law; ratification of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities; enactment of the Employment Equality Act 1998; and enactment of the Equal Status Act 2002.