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	Children&rsquo;s Ombudsman Emily Logan has been widely welcomed as the new head of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.</p>
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	The IHEC combines two state agencies, the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority.</p>
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	This followed years of successive and deep cutbacks in the funding to both bodies.</p>
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	At the launch of their annual reports last November, both agencies detailed the impact the cuts had on their work.</p>
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	Speaking at the launch, former justice minister Alan Shatter, said he was &ldquo;personally disappointed&rdquo; at the delay in establishing the new agency, which he had announced in 2011.</p>
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	The appointment of a high-profile figure in Ms Logan has been taken as a positive sign by voluntary bodies and observers.</p>
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	The director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties Mark Kelly &ldquo;enthusiastically welcomed&rdquo; her appointment.</p>
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	&ldquo;Emily Logan is an outstanding choice as the first Chief Commissioner of the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;As Ombudsman for Children, she has been a fearless defender of the rights of vulnerable young people and her independence and vision will be huge assets to Ireland&rsquo;s new statutory human rights institution.</p>
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	&ldquo;The ICCL welcomes the fact the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission now has a full complement of commissioners appointed through an independent merit-based process.&rdquo;</p>
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	Tanya Ward of Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance said: &ldquo;Emily Logan has done an outstanding job as Ireland&rsquo;s first Ombudsman for Children and we commend her on her many achievements. She established the Office under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 and developed it into the highly-respected body.&rdquo;</p>
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	Making the announcement, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said Ms Logan brought &ldquo;a wealth of experience&rdquo; to the job.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/logan-to-head-up-human-rights-body-275871.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/logan-to-head-up-human-rights-body-275871.html</a></p>
