The six individuals recommended for appointment by the Irish Government were selected following an independent and public process conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). 

The six new Commission Members proposed are: 

• Colin Harvey, Professor of Human Rights Law at Queen’s University Belfast and Director of the Human Rights Centre 
• Andrew Forde, Head of Rural Regeneration at Department of Rural & Community Development / PhD Int. Human Rights Law 
• Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC FRSA, International Human Rights Lawyer and Barrister 
• Eoin Ronayne, Chairperson of Waterford area Partnership Company and Special Projects Adviser in Fórsa 
• Noeline Blackwell, Solicitor and CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
• Dr Salome Mbugua, gender equality activist and founder of AkiDwA and Wezesha (reappointment) 

In accordance with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, once the PAS selection process concludes, Commission Members undergo approval via resolutions from both Houses of the Oireachtas and subsequently receive formal appointment by President Michael D. Higgins. This procedure adheres to the international standards outlined in the UN Paris Principles for National Human Rights Institutions. 

Colin Harvey is Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Human Rights Centre at Queen’s University Belfast, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, and an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Irish Studies. Professor Harvey has served as Head of the Law School, a member of Senate and as a Director of Research. Before returning to Queen’s in 2005 he was Professor of Constitutional and Human Rights Law at the University of Leeds. He has held visiting positions at the University of Michigan, Fordham University, and the London School of Economics and Political Science.  

He has taught on the George Washington University–Oxford University Summer School in International Human Rights Law, and on the international human rights programme at the University of Oxford. He is a member of the Academic Expert Panel at Doughty Street Chambers, a member of the Advisory Group of the ARINS project (Royal Irish Academy and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs), and a member of the Advisory Group of the Future Relationships Project (Holywell Trust).  

Professor Harvey was appointed to the REF2014 Law sub-panel and the REF2014 Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel. He has served as a Commissioner on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, and as a member of the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council. He is the General Editor of the Series Human Rights Law in Perspective (Bloomsbury/Hart Publishing) and is on the editorial boards of Human Rights Law Review and European Human Rights Law Review.

He created, designed and hosts the Constitutional Futures podcast series at Queen’s (18 episodes). He has written and taught extensively on constitutional law, refugee law, and human rights law and recently led a major ESRC funded project on the consequences of Brexit for Northern Ireland. He has spoken at invited conferences, seminars, workshops and other events - locally and internationally - on a regular basis.   

Professor Harvey has written/edited ten books and published articles in Human Rights Law Review, International Journal of Refugee Law, Refugee Survey Quarterly, Modern Law Review, among others. He has been guest editor of journal collections published in International Journal of Minority and Group Rights, Journal of Law and Society, Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly, Canadian Journal of Law and Jurisprudence, Refuge-Canada's Periodical on Refugees, and European Human Rights Law Review. He has written widely on constitutionalism and human rights, including in The Guardian, The Irish Times, among many others. He has secured research funding from the ESRC, British Academy, Nuffield Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies, and the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, among others.  

Professor Harvey has been involved in an extensive range of advisory roles including: invited expert at the Irish Convention on the Constitution on The Right of Citizens Resident outside the State to Vote in Presidential Elections; a participant in UNHCR’s Global Consultation on International Protection; a consultant to the Global Commission on International Migration on The Right to Leave in International Law; and a member of the JUSTICE Advisory Group on Law for Lawmakers.

He has provided evidence to Parliamentary Committees in the UK and Ireland, and most recently gave expert evidence to the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on the Constitutional Future of the island of Ireland, the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for the Executive Office, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and the Northern Ireland Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on a Bill of Rights. 

Commenting on the recommendation, Professor Harvey, Professor of Human Rights Law at Queen’s University Belfast and Director of the Human Rights Centre, said: “It is a great honour and privilege to be recommended for appointment to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and to join such a strong team working to advance human rights and equality. On a personal note, this feels like particularly meaningful recognition of my lifelong work for human rights and equality. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who demonstrated solidarity and support during very difficult recent times. I hope to be of assistance to the Commission and I regard this appointment as further acknowledgement of the outstanding human rights and equality work ongoing at Queen’s.” 

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Mr. Roderic O’Gorman who brought the recommendations to the Irish Government, said: “The candidates being approved today bring a broad range of valuable expertise and perspectives that will support IHREC’s ability in its role in the protection of human rights and equality in Ireland, and the building of a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding.” 

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Chief Commissioner Sinéad Gibney welcomed the announcement, saying: “I’m delighted to welcome our new Commission Members whose experience and expertise will bring new perspective to our work on Ireland’s most pressing human rights and equality matters. I’d also like to acknowledge the work and commitment of our recently departed Commission Members. Their dedication and expertise has helped to make Ireland a more just and inclusive society.”  

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