Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Nov 1993

Vol. 436 No. 3

Written Answers. - UN Human Rights Committee Report.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

28 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice if she has studied the report which the United Nations Human Rights Committee released of its findings after examining the compliance of Ireland with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; if so, the findings contained; her views on the report; if not, if she intends to study the report; the action, if any, she and the Government intend to take in regard to the areas meriting special concern by the Committee, that is, the continuation of the State of Emergency and Emergency Powers Act and the Special Criminal Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I have received the comments of the UN Human Rights Committee on Ireland's first report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

I am pleased at the very positive and favourable response of the Human Rights Committee to the report. The Committee expressed its satisfaction at the high quality of the report and its appreciation of the Attorney General's detailed submissions when he attended the hearings of the Committee.

The Committee also made a number of suggestions and recommendations on various aspects of Ireland's compliance with the Convenant. In brief, these relate to:

—the compatibility of Irish legislation

with the Convenant and the question of incorporating its provisions into Irish law;

—the State of Emergency, the Emergency Powers Act and the Special Criminal Court;

—Garda powers;

—Freedom of expression and censorship;

—Equality issues;

—The Travelling Community;

—Training in human rights for the Garda and the legal profession as well as human rights in education.

The comments of the Committee on those matters which fall within my area of responsibility are receiving careful and detailed consideration in my Department and any decisions I may come to as a result of that consideration will be made known in the normal way in due course.