asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland did not sign the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture; if the Government object to the Convention in total or to parts of it; the person or persons who represented the Government at the Foreign Ministers meeting on 26 November 1987; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland and Turkey are the only two countries not to have signed; if his attention has been further drawn to the concern expresed by many of our partners at our failure to sign; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - European Convention for the Prevention of Torture.
41.
The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was opened for signature on 26 November 1987 during the last session of the Committee of Minister of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Pressure of other work meant that consideration of the implications of Ireland's becoming party to the Convention could not be completed in time to have the Convention signed on behalf of Ireland on that date. It is hope that it will be signed very shortly. The Government's representative at the Strasbourg meeting was Deputy Sean Calleary, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. I am aware that Ireland and Turkey are the only two member states of the Council of Europe not yet to have signed the Convention. To my knowledge none of our partners has expressed a view about this matter.