Irishman still vying for European Human Rights role

Irishman Michael O’Flaherty is still in contention to become the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights.

Mr O’Flaherty is one of three candidates vying for the role which will be decided by the Parliamentary Assembly of the 46-nation Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

In the first round of voting yesterday, Mr O’Flaherty topped the poll with 97 votes, followed by Meglena Kuneva from Bulgaria with 78 votes and Manfred Nowak from Austria on 75 votes.

A second round of voting will take place this evening.

When nominating Mr O’Flaherty, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he had “extremely strong credentials” for the job given he is the current Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Mr O’Flaherty previously served as Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, Galway and as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

He was also a member of the UN Human Rights Committee.