Belfast Agreement
House of Lords

Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench)

To ask Her Majesty's Government which requirements in the Belfast Agreement for the protection of human rights by the Government of the Republic of Ireland remain to be fulfilled.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Government of the Republic of Ireland, as required by the Belfast Agreement, has created a Human Rights Commission with a mandate and remit equivalent to that within Northern Ireland.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Government of the Republic of Ireland has ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the protection of National Minorities, as required by the Belfast Agreement.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Government of the Republic of Ireland has implemented enhanced employment equality legislation as required by the Belfast Agreement.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the recent proposals by the Government of the Republic of Ireland to curtail financial support for Protestant schools in the Republic of Ireland are consistent with its obligations in the Belfast Agreement for the protection of human rights; whether the United Kingdom Government have considered this development; in the light of the Belfast Agreement's commitment to equality of treatment of minorities, what assessment they have made of how many Protestant schools are now threatened with closure; and whether the matter has been raised with the government of the Republic of Ireland.

Earl Attlee (Whip, House of Lords; Conservative)

I know that the noble Lord has expressed concern elsewhere on the issue of financial support for schools in Ireland in particular. However, the Irish Government would be best placed to provide the information the noble Lord seeks. I would suggest that the noble Lord raises these matters directly with the Irish Government and I have asked officials to ensure that officials in the Irish Government are aware of the noble Lord's concerns.