Tag Archives: Emily Logan

ronanm

Senator Ronan Mullen took issue with the UNHRC and Sir Nigel Rodley in a meeting of the Justice, Defence and Equality Committee earlier as he addressed the newly appointed chief of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Emily Logan.

“I was extremely unhappy with the behaviour of the UN Human Rights Commission recently and the comments of Sir Nigel Rodley, particularly in relation to Ireland’s abortion laws.

UN agencies are radically in danger of overstepping their remit. Certain international human rights bodies seem to be off of a frolic of their own in a way that they do not respect our Constitutional understanding of what authentic human rights are.

I would ask that your Commission would respect first of all, the diversity of different points of view of people of goodwill in our society on various issues.”

Ms Logan replied:

“It was not only embarrassing but it was shocking as an Irish citizen not just as Chief Commissioner to hear about our demonstrable history and the way we have treated women and children.”

As the committee chair David Stanton informed the Senator his time was up, Senator Mullen accused the chair of a “culture of censorship“, the chair reminded him of a “culture of good manners“.

Senator Mullen called Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn a “Yes man” when his attendance record was questioned.

Good times.

Previously: What The Man From The UN Said

Nightmares

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Children’s Ombudsman Emily Logan at the launch of her final annual report in Dublin this morning

Outgoing Children’s Ombudsman Emily Logan has published her final annual report this morning, which shows there was an 16% increase in complaints in 2013, compared to 2012.

From her report:

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In relation to one particular complaint, Ms Logan’s report explains how the State could not find a school to take one child – who was a separated child seeking asylum and aged 13 at the time – for two years.

[Office of the Children’s Ombudsman] received a complaint from a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) regarding education provision for a separated child seeking asylum. The child who was then aged 13, had been permanently excluded from school. Despite applications to almost 30 schools in a wide catchment area by the National Education and Welfare Board (NEWB) and the child’s social worker as well as one unsuccessful Section 29 appeal, a school place could not be secured.

The Department sanctioned nine hours per week Home Tuition (according to the DES Circular M29/95 the minimum number of instruction hours per week in post-primary school is 28) for the child throughout this period. The GAL contended that the Department failed in its responsibility to provide a school place for the child and that this involuntary exclusion from school had an adverse impact on their social and academic development.

…

The child was given a school place after two years outside the system and is reported to be progressing well after a difficult start.

In relation to asylum seekers in general, Ms Logan states:

I would like to use this opportunity to once again raise an ongoing issue of concern for me regarding the exclusion to my investigatory remit in the area of asylum and immigration. The Department of Justice and Equality and my Office do not have a shared understanding of the scope of this exclusion, particularly as it relates to children in direct provision.

I have raised this with the Oireachtas on numerous occasions dating back to my first annual report. In March 2012, my Office submitted a detailed report on the operation of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 to the Oireachtas and to the Minister for Children
and Youth Affairs. This report contained a detailed recommendation for amending the 2002 Act to clarify the role of the OCO in relation to complaints relating to asylum and immigration matters.

Notwithstanding the lack of clarity regarding its jurisdiction, the OCO has dealt with complaints brought to its attention concerning children living in direct provision. The OCO has sought and obtained a resolution to complaints brought to the Office in the interests of the children in question, though the Department of Justice and Equality has not accepted that the OCO can address these as cases within the statutory complaints-handling framework of the Ombudsman for Children Act.

Meanwhile, from the launch…

Read the report in full here

Previously: Why All The Secrecy?

Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland