Independent Human Rights Act Review

​The Bar of Northern Ireland has published its submission to the Ministry of Justice’s Independent Human Rights Act Review.

The Bar’s response to the Review highlights the potential significant risks which any changes to the Human Rights Act 1998 could entail for the stability of the complex constitutional settlement in Northern Ireland.

Chair Bernard Brady QC remarked: “The Bar does not believe that any amendments to the Human Rights Act are necessary or desirable; we do not see any structural problems in relation to the operation of the Act which would justify any widespread changes to it. It already strikes the right balance in respecting the UK’s constitutional values and upholding the rule of law. Indeed it is important to bear in mind that it also played a unique role in underpinning the human rights guarantees and safeguards contained in the Belfast Agreement and Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Bar would not be in support of any attempts by this Review to diminish the level of human rights protections afforded to citizens in Northern Ireland”.

Read more about the Review and view the Bar’s response in full.