Country detail - yourHRC.org

Ireland

Regional group:

Western European & Others Group

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	–
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2024) :

Other HRC positions:	–
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	A and Dissolved Institution

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights; Civil society space; Cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage; Preventable mortality and morbidity of children under 5 years of age as a human rights concern; Civil society space: COVID-19: the road to recovery and the essential role of civil society; Situation of human rights in Yemen; Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2013, Ireland has either voted in favour of or has joined consensus on every resolution tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention), and country-specific resolutions under item 2. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Ireland always votes in favour, except for some resolutions on human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan (on which it abstains). On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), Ireland has joined consensus on all resolutions except for the two that have been voted on during its time as member: both dealing with cooperation with Ukraine (with Ireland voting in favour). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, Ireland has mainly either voted in favour or joined consensus. The only resolution that it has voted against is Egypt’s 2015 resolution on the effects of terrorism on human rights. Ireland has abstained on a Russian resolution on the integrity of the judicial system, on Cuban resolutions on the right to peace, and two African Group resolutions related to racism. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, Ireland has joined consensus on a majority of texts. Where there have been votes on such texts, Ireland has voted in favour of (NAM) resolutions on the right to development, and against texts on: the effects of foreign debt (Cuba); international solidarity (Cuba); and unilateral coercive measures (NAM). Ireland has abstained on a number of resolutions, including on the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin, and on access to medicine.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 98

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 46

270

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 61

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Country has not previously held a seat on the Council

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
None

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CRPD
1.76 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2011, 2016)

Mid-term report

1st and 2nd cycles

Level of delegation

Minister

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 60 / 192

2^nd cycle: 157 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2024)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 29

Ireland tabled voluntary pledges and commitments in support for its candidacy for membership for the period 2013-2015, on 13 April 2012.

Internationally, Ireland pledged to: seek clear and strong action by the Council in addressing human rights violations; promote the Council’s role as a forum for exchanging best practice; participate actively in the UPR and ensure that ‘each review’ is focused on improvement of the domestic situation; fully engage in the work of the Third Committee; support the work of an independent and properly resourced OHCHR; continue to provide funding to OHCHR; continue to support civil society engagement with the Council; integrate human rights into overseas development assistance (ODA); use ODA to support national human rights institutions; continue to support UN efforts to combat discrimination against women; promote the rights of human rights defenders; continue to cooperate fully with the Council’s mechanisms; comply with its international treaty obligations, including through timely reporting; and ratify the CRPD and CPED.

Domestically, Ireland committed to: implement its national action plan flowing from Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security; implement the National Action Plan against racism; continue to support domestic human rights education; support the work and independence of the Irish Human Rights Commission; and continue to consult civil society.

An analysis of steps taken by Ireland in fulfilment of its international pledges shows that it is a strong supporter of the work of the Council, participating in over half of all panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues. Regarding its pledge to comply with its treaty reporting obligations, 1 out of 6 reports is currently overdue, and two were submitted late. For the UPR, Ireland was represented at ministerial level, and presented a mid-term report on implementation. Ireland is yet to ratify CRPD or CPED.

Ireland

Western European & Others Group

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 60 / 192

2nd cycle: 157 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 29

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 60 / 192

2^nd cycle: 157 / 192