Schedule 3: Protection for certain rights, safeguards etc in Belfast Agreement Section 78A - NIHRC functions in relation to EU withdrawal agreement
New section 78A of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 sets out the functions of the NIHRC as part of the dedicated mechanism.
	The NIHRC will be required to monitor the implementation of Article 2(1) of the Protocol (78A(1)). It will also be required to report to the Secretary of State and the Executive Office in Northern Ireland on the implementation of Article 2(1) of the Protocol (78A(2)) and may require them to reply to such a report and explain what steps they have taken, or are planning to take, in response to any recommendation/s contained in the report (78A(3)). Where the NIHRC makes such a report under subsection (3), the Secretary of State must lay a copy of that report before Parliament and the Executive Office must lay a copy of it before the Assembly (78A(4)).
	This section also includes a duty to advise the Secretary of State and the Executive Committee of the Assembly of legislative and other measures that ought to be taken to implement the commitment in Article 2(1) (78A(5)). The NIHRC is also required to advise the Assembly on the compatibility of proposed Assembly legislation with Article 2(1) of the Protocol (78A(6)) and to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of Article 2(1) through research and educational activities (78A(7)). This section also allows the NIHRC to publish its advice and the outcome of its research (78A(8)) and to bring any appropriate matters to the attention of the Specialised Committee referred to in Article 14(c) of the Protocol (78A(9)).