In June 2026, CLM made a submission on the Department of Social Protection’s Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty Assessment and Action Plan.

Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act requires public bodies (such as the Department and the Social Welfare Appeals Office (“SWAO”) to have regard to the need to protect human rights, promote equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination in the performance of their functions. The duty also applies to the Department in policy formulation and implementation processes.

In CLM’s view, a central priority for the next Plan should be ensuring that all individuals can effectively understand, access and vindicate their rights and entitlements when engaging with the Department’s social welfare decision-making and appeals system.

While a range of issues arise in this context, we have identified the following three areas to be of particular importance for the Department’s Plan:

1. Accessibility of information and communications

2. Accessibility of social welfare appeals system

3. Fair procedures and transparency in social welfare decision-making and appeals

Read our submission in full here: