European Court of Human Rights

The European Convention on Human Rights is a mainstay of human rights protection in Europe. Under the Convention, states promise to uphold fundamental liberties such as the right to life, the right to protest, freedom of expression and the right to liberty. As a founding state to the Council of Europe, Ireland was amongst the first signatories to the Convention.

The European Court of Human Rights is responsible for ensuring that states comply with the Convention. It hears applications from NGOs, individuals and other Member States alleging breaches of human rights. This institution is of particular importance to Ireland, given the vital role it plays in safeguarding fundamental freedoms.

Ireland helps to enhance the Court’s visibility through various means including by funding the public webcasting of Court hearings. Ireland’s Ambassador Caitríona Doyle is also the current Chairperson of the Human Rights Trust Fund, which allows the Council of Europe to support its member states in designing and implementing national measures required to execute the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, to remedy the consequences of human rights violations and stop repetitive applications before domestic courts.

Irish lawyers have performed senior, leadership functions within this flagship institution. Siofra O’Leary, one of Ireland’s most accomplished legal professors, was the first female President of the Court from 2022 -2024. Our current Judge to the Strasbourg-Court is Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, an Adjunct Professor of Law at Maynooth University and former judge at the Court of Appeal. Ireland has also intervened in cases that have important international repercussions, such as Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia.

All judgments are binding on the countries concerned. The Council of Europe’s highest decision making body, the Committee of Ministers, is in charge of ensuring that the Court’s decisions are executed. Ireland advocates vocally to ensure that cases touching upon our foreign policy priorities - LGBTQ+ rights, human rights defenders and freedom of assembly – are implemented in a timely fashion.”

For more information on the impact of the Court and Convention on Ireland:

See some examples of how people in Ireland have been protected by the European Convention on Human Rights - Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights