Martin Cullen
Question:38 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, Ireland is taking, on an international level, to promote the abolition of the death penalty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Abolition of Death Penalty.
When I addressed the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna on 14 June 1993 I announced that the Government had decided to accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenent on Civil and Political Rights. This is the major international instrument which provides for abolition of the death penalty. As the Deputy will be aware, the death penalty had already been abolished in Ireland with the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act (1990).
Ireland's Instrument of accession to the Second Optional Protocol was deposited with the UN Secretary-General on 18 June 1993. We acceded without making any reservation.
This country is one of only 18 states parties to the Second Optional Protocol and we are, thus, to the forefront of international efforts to abolish the death penalty. Although the number of states acceding to the Protocol is still small, I believe that it is significant that six countries, including Ireland, have become parties since the beginning of this year. I hope that our example will promote the wider abolition of the death penalty.