Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 2

Written Answers. - States of Emergency Legislation.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

18 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to reports that the United Nations intends to include Ireland in a blacklist of countries maintaining emergency laws; if she has received any representations in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9343/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I am aware that there has been a number of newspaper reports to this effect arising from a submission made by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties to the UN Sub-Commission Rapporteur on States of Emergency in January last but I understand that there is no record of representations within my Department on the matter.

The ICCL submission was brought to the attention of my Department by the Department of Foreign Affairs only recently. When it was, a communication was issued to the Special Rapporteur so that his report would reflect the up to date position following the ending of the state of emergency by resolutions passed in both Houses of the Oireachtas in February last.

I should point out to the House that the use of the word "blacklist" by the ICCL in this connection is quite misleading in that it implies a censure of the State by the UN. In fact, the list is a technical type list and is not anywhere officially referred to as a "blacklist" and it is produced without comment or judgment, naming those countries which have emergency measures in place.