Abstract
The UK government makes three key human rights-related commitments in the Good Friday Agreement, the basis for the restoration of devolution and transition from conflict to peace in Northern Ireland: incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into Northern Ireland law, consider proposals for a regional Bill of Rights and ensure compliance with the state’s international obligations in the region. While ECHR compliance is required of devolved institutions by the constitutional legislation, the prospects of a Bill of Rights being enacted appear limited and oversight of compliance with other international obligations is unsatisfactorily placed in political, rather than judicial, hands. Consequently, protection of socio-economic rights beyond those covered by ECHR is weak. This paper argues that judicial protection of socio-economic rights – whether in the form of a Bill of Rights or the incorporation of additional human rights agreements into Northern Ireland law – is required for full implementation of the Agreement. It then considers the implications of such a step for social security in the region. The concluding section highlights political and fiscal implications that would have to be considered.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 105-126 |
Journal | Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly |
Volume | 66 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Accepted/In press - 17 Mar 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Research supervised by Grainne McKeever and Ann Marie GrayKeywords
- Good Friday Agreement
- Devolution
- Social Security
- Social and economic rights