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Bill of Rights deadline is extended

Thursday, 25 February 2010

The Government has bowed to pressure to extend the deadline on the public consultation over the controversial Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Responses were due to be in by the end of this week, but an influx of calls from organisations to increase the timescale has been agreed to and the final date for submissions will now be March 31.

Earlier this month the Human Rights Commission claimed the proposals would undermine existing protections, raising concerns about the treatment of ethnic minorities or those with disabilities.

But it had already come in for criticism from unionist politicians for drawing up recommendations to put to the Government that were “outside its remit”.

In a written statement to Parliament, Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said: “The Government believes a Bill of Rights which has the support of the people of Northern Ireland could play an important role in underpinning the peace, prosperity and political progress.”

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The powers to be should review the USA bill of rights which still works and they might see what the U.K. is lacking for it's people.

Posted by phl | 25.02.10, 16:40 GMT

This is a totally un-needed stata of legislation. There should be enough protection for the weak and the vulnerable under current law and if that is not the case then any identifed areas of weakness should be dealt with within the purview of the piece of legislation found wanting. What with Section 75 of the NIA, all the anti-discrimination law, The EU Courts, the human rights act and health and safety (most of which have spawned an industry of well paid lawyers) what is needed is a Bill of Responsibilities. Too many times the thug, the terrorist, the murderer, the fraudster, a criminal generally, has used the culture of rights to escape or dilute justice at the expense of the victims. What I don't want is yet another strata of law that can be used to frustrate justice. Protect the weak and vulnerable by all means and if the current legislation needs updating for this to happen then get on with it.

Posted by Tangled Web | 25.02.10, 09:02 GMT