ICCL - Report - "Human Rights in a pandemic"

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) published in June a report entitled "Human Rights in a Pandemic", which provides analysis based on over a year of monitoring the impact of COVID and the restrictions on human rights.

While ICCL acknowledges that government has done well in protecting the rights to life and to health, the report highlights what ICCL considers as serious shortcomings:

• Democratic failings in the processing of emergency legislation;
• Over-reliance on police powers instead of good communications and decent supports;
• Some groups – older people, immigrants, Travellers, children, women – have suffered much more than others because of the restrictions;
• Rights such as protest and worship were unduly restricted.