The IHREC was established by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 as the merger of two earlier bodies, which were dissolved and had their functions transferred to the IHREC: • The — established in 1977 as the Employment Equality Agency, it was renamed by the Employment Equality Act 1998. • The
Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) — established in 2001 under the Human Rights Commission Act 2000. The functions of the IHREC under the 2014 act are: • To protect and promote human rights and equality, • To encourage the development of a culture of respect for human rights, equality, and intercultural understanding in the State, • To promote understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights and equality in the State, • To encourage good practice in intercultural relations, to promote tolerance and acceptance of diversity in the State and respect for the freedom and dignity of each person, and • To work towards the elimination of human rights abuses, discrimination and prohibited conduct. Because IHREC is an NHRI, its powers and functions fully comply with the
Paris Principles. The Principles, which set out the role, composition, status and functions of NHRIs, were endorsed by the
United Nations General Assembly in December 1993. == Organisation ==