Statement

DUP meets with Human Rights Commission

Posted on: July 8, 2009

North Down DUP MLA Peter Weir and party colleague Simon Hamilton have met with the Human Rights Commission in Belfast today.  Speaking after the meeting Peter Weir MLA said: 

“I welcome the opportunity to meet with the NIHRC and to have an exchange of views. Issues discussed included the proposal for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. I think it is fair to say that there is not a huge degree of common ground between the DUP and the NIHRC as to how the human rights agenda can be advanced in Northern Ireland.  

The DUP is opposed vociferously to the content of the draft Bill of Rights produced by the Bill of Rights Forum and subsequently adopted by the commission, though noticeably with two Unionist members of the commission refusing to endorse the document. We will continue to outline our opposition to government at Westminster on this matter and will fight to ensure that the dangerous and damaging proposals contained in the draft Bill of Rights are not implemented. 

The DUP re-iterates our view that the Human Rights and Equality Commission’s should be merged as a means of saving taxpayers money and cutting back on red-tape and bureaucracy. In the current economic climate, people are looking to us to show leadership in saving money and ensuring we get best value. The proliferation of Belfast Agreement quangos cannot continue into the future.”