Divergent Views On Bill Of Rights

A Northern Ireland Office Minister of State, Hugo Swire has updated Westminster on the progress on a proposed NI Bill of Rights - and underlined that the way ahead is far from clear.

The MP said: "Consultation [has] demonstrated opposition to a wide-ranging Bill of Rights and support instead for a more limited set of rights that reflected the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.

"This divergence of views was also reflected in the submissions made by political parties in Northern Ireland.

"The Government will continue to consider how best to address this issue, but continues to urge all sides to work together to help build consensus on the best way to proceed," he said, noting that he has already published responses to the previous Government's consultation on 'A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Next Steps'. He said: "A total of approximately 36,492 responses were received.

"There were 232 substantive responses and approximately 36,260 email and mail/freepost mailshots that were sent as part of campaigns by various groups.

"Individual mailshot responses have not been published on the NIO website due to the high volume received; however sample versions have been made available.

"There was considerable support from human rights and community groups for a wide-ranging Bill of Rights along the lines of that recommended by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

"They expressed concern that the proposals in the consultation document fell well short of this," he said, adding to the confusion as last September, human rights commissions from across the UK strongly backed the proposed 'full' Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Meeting in Belfast in September, they said that the coalition at Westminster has passed the question of whether to introduce a British Bill of Rights supplanting the European Convention on Human Rights to an independent commission and a statement from the three commissions - including that in NI - was unequivocal.

"The three UK national human rights institutions agree that the establishment of a UK commission to investigate the possible creation of a British Bill of Rights must not delay the process of implementing a separate Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland," it said.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in December 2008 has already presented its advice on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland to the Stormont Government.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Chief Commissioner Monica McWilliams said: "On this issue the three United Nations accredited national human rights institutions are totally agreed."

See: NI Bill Of Rights Wins UK Backing

(BMcC/GK)