Sir, - If "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" the revelation by Mr Donal Berrington, president of the Irish Human Rights Commission, that the commission lacks the necessary resources to operate is profoundly alarming (The Irish Times, May 18th).
The function of the commission, as enunciated in the Human Rights Commission Act 2000, is to ensure that the constitutional and human rights of Irish citizens are protected. Recent revelations in our courts concerning the Garda, in addition to film footage and the latest violation by this Government of the European Convention on Human Rights (reported Irish Times May 17), perhaps illuminate the reasons why the Irish Human Rights Commission is not resourced, nor the European Convention on Human Rights a part of our domestic law.
The Irish Human Rights Commission is an important element of the Belfast Agreement and as such forms part of our Constitution. Yet, four years since its announcement, it remains, in practice, non-existent.
Mr Ahern declared in December 1998 that the Commission would "set, not follow best international practice in this field".
Human rights are the lifeblood of a democracy and it is imperative that the commission is fully resourced and staffed. No government can be allowed to play stroke politics with such a kernel component of democracy.
I sincerely hope the new Opposition will be vigilant where our liberties are concerned as Mr Ahern et.al. may well forget that the duties of citizens in this Republic are balanced by inalienable rights. - Yours, etc.,
MARTIN MAHER,
Galtymore Road,
Drimnagh,
Dublin 12.