'Sharp fall' in Irish public confidence that human rights are delivered fairly

Confidence that human rights are being delivered fairly in Ireland has suffered what the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission called a “sharp fall.” The commission’s latest annual public attitudes poll found that 53% of respondents believed they had equal opportunities to get ahead in life, down from 62% last year.

Only 26% said efforts to combat discrimination were effective, compared with 40% in 2025. The share who believed everyone in Ireland enjoys the same basic human rights also fell, to 39% from 48% in both 2025 and 2024.

The findings did not point to a rejection of human rights and equality. IHREC said people instead wanted those principles to produce tangible improvements in their lives. Eighty-four percent said everyone should be treated equally regardless of background, while large majorities considered affordable healthcare, housing and adequate earnings important economic and social rights.

The poll showed a clear gender divide. Women were more likely than men to express concern about discrimination, economic insecurity, fairness and the adequacy of government responses. Just 8% of women believed wealth was distributed fairly in Ireland, compared with 15% of men. Men were also more likely to believe that everyone enjoyed equal basic rights, that the government was doing enough to address racism, and that Ireland welcomed diversity.

Age shaped perceptions as well. Overall, 65% said they had a strong understanding of human rights, rising to 75% among 18 to 24-year-olds and falling to 63% among people aged 50 and over. Yet younger adults were much less confident about experiencing equality in practice: only 40% believed they had equal opportunities to get ahead, down from 60% last year. They were also more likely to have witnessed racism and disability discrimination. Twenty-six percent of those aged 18 to 24 reported seeing disability discrimination in the past year, compared with 4% of people aged 65 and over.

The poll found that 87% of respondents worried about the cost of living. Only 12% thought the government had done enough to address those pressures, while 72% did not.

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sharp fall