Minister Ahern welcomes appointment of independent Chair of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Dermot Ahern, today welcomed the announcement that Mr Chris Sidoti, human rights lawyer and former Australian Human Rights Commissioner, has been appointed as independent Chair of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum.

The Minister said:

 "I would like to wish Chris Sidoti well in his new role as the Forum's independent Chair.

The Irish Government has consistently supported the establishment of a Forum involving the political parties and civic society to facilitate an open and inclusive debate on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. 

With Chris Sidoti’s appointment today, the important work of the Forum gets underway in earnest. I look forward to following an energetic and stimulating discussion under his chairmanship over the coming months".

Note for Editors

The Bill of Rights Forum for Northern Ireland was established in December 2006. Its goal is to produce agreed recommendations to inform the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission as it fulfils its mandate under the Good Friday Agreement to provide advice to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. (“on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights reflecting the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland”).

Forum membership consists of 14 representatives of the main political parties in Northern Ireland and 14 representatives of civic society – employers, trade unions, churches, human rights groups, women, young people, old people, disabled people, ethnic minorities, people of all sexual orientations.

The Forum is expected to complete its work by the end of December 2007.