Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission - History

History

The third Chief Commissioner, Professor Michael O'Flaherty, took office on 19 September 2011, following the early departure on 31 August of Monica McWilliams, who had succeeded the first holder of the office, Professor Brice Dickson, in 2005. There is a variable number of part-time commissioners (currently seven, all appointed from 1 September 2011). The term of office is also variable: up to five years for the Chief Commissioner, and up to three years for other Commissioners. Until 2011, the norm was to offer three-year appointments and to offer a second term. Professor O'Flaherty's appointment was announced in July 2011. He was to serve for five years and the Commissioners for three.

In relation to its mandate to advise on a Bill of Rights, the Commission conducted a very extensive public consultation exercise during Dickson's term as Chief Commissioner. It handed over a draft report to the McWilliams Commission, which engaged in three further years of discussion before producing its report in December 2008 and presenting it to the Secretary of State. From December 2009 to 31 March 2010 the Northern Ireland Office conducted a public consultation on its response to the Commission's recommendations, most of which were firmly rejected by the government. The Commission continues to campaign for enactment of a comprehensive Bill but the change of government following the 2010 general election made such an outcome very unlikely.

In August 2010 it was announced that, with effect from April 2013, the Commission's budget was to be cut by 25 per cent (from £1.7m in 2010-11). McWilliams, who had been reappointed for a four-year term ending in August 2012, announced that she would depart a year early, when the term of the part-time Commissioners ended. The Commission subsequently underwent a restructuring, losing two of its four management posts in July 2011; other staff posts have since been vacated and the organisation is expected to shrink further as a result of budget cuts.

The Commission is required to maintain a Joint Committee with the Irish Human Rights Commission, created to fulfil the same role in the Republic of Ireland.