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Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Look who's been nominated Ireland's new human rights commissioner...

Emily Logan will step down from her post as the Ombudsman for Children to take up role on Ireland’s new rights and equality body.

THE CHILDREN’S OMBUDSMAN Emily Logan has announced she is being nominated the first Chief Commissioner of the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

The Commission is being formed through the merging of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority, under new legislation passed by the Oireachtas last week.

Logan said she was “honoured to be nominated” for the position, and that it “will be an honour to work with a Commission of such calibre, expertise and diversity.”

She added:

I would like to join Mr David Joyce, Acting Chairperson of the IHREC (Designate) in his public commitment to delivering the mandate given to the Commission by the new legislation to work for the promotion and protection of the human rights and equality of everyone in Ireland.

Logan will step down from her Ombudsman post this autumn in order to take up her new role.

“It has been a privilege to serve as Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children for the past decade,” she said today.

It was a remarkable experience for me both personally and professionally, and I believe that my Office made an important contribution to the promotion and protection of children’s rights during this time.

Then-Justice Minister Alan Shatter announced the names of the 14 members designate to the new body in April 2013. The formal appointment of the Commission chief and members will be made by President Higgins following the passing of relevant motions in the Dáil and Seanad.

The new Minister of State with responsibility for Equality Aodhán Ó Ríordáin welcomed Logan’s nomination, saying she “brings a wealth of experience from her role as Ombudsman for Children” to her new post.

“I wish her every success in her new position,” he said, adding:

The new Commission has the potential to make a very real difference to human rights and equality in Ireland, not least by working with public bodies to improve standards, providing training and invite the development of action plans to address identified failures, for which it has been given a specific power by the legislation.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties also welcomed Logan’s nomination.

ICCL Director Mark Kelly described Logan as an “outstanding choice” for the role.

“As Ombudsman for Children, she has been a fearless defender of the rights of vulnerable young people and her independence and vision will be huge assets to Ireland’s new statutory national human rights institution,” Kelly said.

Read: UN told symphysiotomy patients were ‘operated upon wide awake and often screaming’ >

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21 Comments
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    Mute UnapologetiCapitalis
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:02 PM

    What a great day for nobody

    94
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    Mute Donncha Foley
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    Jul 17th 2014, 2:06 PM

    Great choice. She’s a future president – she seems to have no fear of state institutions.

    47
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    Mute Michael
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:12 PM

    Just another quango appointee

    72
    sol
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    Mute sol
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:23 PM

    Brilliant another quango. And how much is she on?

    50
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    Mute HULK SMASH!
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:29 PM

    I’m not good with figures Sol, but I’m guessing around 500 million euros perhaps? Could be wrong though

    47
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    Mute Jack Ripper
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:40 PM

    I think it’s more like 500 million billion squillion dollars.

    31
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    Mute Jack Ripper
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:00 PM

    What has she done about the minds of children being hijacked by agents of a foreign state?

    38
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    Mute Jamie
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:13 PM

    Eh, what?

    43
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    Mute Donncha Foley
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:20 PM

    Yours included?

    22
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    Mute James St John Smith
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:38 PM

    Inception?

    8
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    Mute Jack Ripper
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:39 PM

    The Vatican is a foreign state that controls almost all of our schools. Didn’t think it was that difficult to understand TBH.

    23
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    Mute Niamh O'Connor
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    Jul 17th 2014, 1:50 PM

    Well, there was an article in the Irish Times on 12 Dec last that quotes her as saying the following:
    “Children should not have preferential access to publicly funded education on the basis of their religion and that the Equal Status Act should reflect that principle.” It said that she called for an end to discrimnatory admissions policies in schools and that gave me hope for one. At least, it seems, she sees the situation for what it is. Perhaps she could have used her power to press for change more, I don’t know, but I am glad she has been appointed to this position for this reason alone if she holds these views and is willing to assert them.

    31
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    Mute Hairy lemon
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    Jul 17th 2014, 3:47 PM

    @Jack…. What???? Is there anything going on up there….??!!!

    5
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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Jul 17th 2014, 5:36 PM

    I take other statement on access to schools should be applied equally to C of I, Muslim, Educate Together schools as well.

    6
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    Mute Jack Ripper
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    Jul 17th 2014, 9:05 PM

    No idea what you’re trying to say. May I suggest attending a school that focuses more on English language skills and less on pointless rubbish like religion?

    1
    JH
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    Mute JH
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    Jul 17th 2014, 3:54 PM

    Very nice woman who does stellar work… I’ve had professional paths crossed with her and she seems a fantastic ambassador.

    37
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    Mute johngahan
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    Jul 17th 2014, 4:51 PM

    Positive opinions like that about public figures can do great damage to the morale of people posting on the Journal. If you can’t say something bad about someone you are better off saying nothing at all.

    31
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    Mute Brendan McGill
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    Jul 17th 2014, 5:29 PM

    I always found her to be a person of great integrity. I’m pleased for her on this appointment to a new position.

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    Mute AD0099
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    Jul 17th 2014, 10:54 PM

    I know someone who was engaged to her once and he said she was a right dragon!!!

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    Mute R Neuville
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    Jul 17th 2014, 7:02 PM

    €951 car tax for 10 year old car while wealthy who can afford new cars pay just €280 for equivalent new car. Pensioners subsidising the road tax of the wealthy in Ireland. A disgusting (inequality) place to live.

    12
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    Mute Seamus O'ceadagain
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    Jul 17th 2014, 4:48 PM

    Anyone know how I can apply for jobs like this?….where do I send my cv?

    11
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