asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is the intention of the Government to ratify the two United Nations international human rights covenants and optional protocol.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Human Rights.
30.
The question of ratification of these covenants has been under consideration for some time by interested Government Departments. It is envisaged that both covenants will be ratified simultaneously, as has been the general practice followed by other states party to the covenants. Before proceeding to ratification, the Government are anxious to ensure that our domestic legislation enables us to comply fully with the terms of the covenants. In this connction, certain problems remain for us with regard to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. My Department are actively seeking to resolve these outstanding problems so that we can proceed to early ratification of both covenants. The question of ratifying the optional protocol to the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will be considered when any substantive difficulties in the way of ratification of the covenant itself have been resolved.
Given that both covenants have been open for ratification since 1966 will the Minister give any indication of the time limit that will be involved in the deliberations the Department are having on the matter? Is the Minister in a position to tell the House within what time span the Government are prepared to ratify those covenants?
In view of the length of time that the covenants have been open it would be unduly brave of me at this stage to hazard a guess at a time span. However, the Department are actively seeking to resolve these outstanding problems so that we can proceed to early ratification of both covenants.
Does the Minister feel that the matter is more serious now in view of the fact that Ireland has been elected to the UN Commission on Human Rights? We are now in the embarrassing position of calling on other Governments to live up to international standards which we have failed to ratify. Given that that is an extremely embarrassing situation for any country I should like to know if the Minister feels that the matter will be expedited now?
There is no question of embarrassment in not having ratified the covenants because we are fully in accordance with the European Convention. There is no question of the country lacking in this area generally but, as I indicated to the Deputy, the Department are anxious to proceed to early ratification and the matter is having urgent attention.
Does the Minister feel that Ireland's credibility in defending human rights internationally has been undermined by our failure to ratify these covenants? The Minister has said he did not feel there was any embarrassment involved but Ireland has been in the position of defending human rights and calling for certain standards in South American and other countries and does he not think our credibility will be undermined by our failure to ratify the covenants mentioned?
No, I do not.