Vol. 425 No. 7
95 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to ratify the UN covenant on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, in view of the fact that Ireland is the only EC country which has not signed this covenant.
It is the Government's intention that Ireland will become a party to this convention at the earliest possible opportunity.
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted and opened for signature and ratification by the UN General Assembly in December 1965. It entered into force in January 1969. Ireland signed the Convention on 21 March 1968. Ratification was delayed pending our adherence to other major UN human rights agreements, specifically the UN Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
In 1989, the Oireachtas enacted the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, which provides for protection from any form of incitement to hatred against groups of persons in the State on account of their race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins.
Further legislative measures may be required to enable Ireland ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This question is under active consideration by the Office of the Attorney General.
