Vol. 465 No. 4
88 Ms Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether this State should immediately ratify the UN Convention Against Torture; the legislative obstacles, if any, that exist to Ireland ratifying this Convention; and if so, the action, if any, he proposes in this respect. [9925/96]
Ireland signed the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on 28 September 1992. Early ratification of this Convention is essential.
Before Ireland can proceed to ratification legislation is necessary on the following issues: 1. Torture as defined in this Convention includes a category of mental torture for which an offence is not at present prescribed under the existing criminal law. 2. Legislation is required to expand the jurisdiction of our courts to cover alleged offenders who would not already be covered by the existing criminal law.
A review of existing extradition legislation may also be required to ensure compliance with article 3 of the Convention which states that "No State Party shall expel, return (refouler) or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture".
Responsibility for introducing the necessary legislation rests with the Minister for Justice. As soon as this legislation is enacted I will take steps to ratify this Convention as a matter of urgency.
89 Ms Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the lead role of his Department's Human Rights Unit is co-ordinating the fulfilment of Ireland's international reporting and other human rights obligations with other Government departments and offices, as stated in the White Paper on Foreign Policy, extends to responsibility for Ireland's reporting obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. [9920/96]
The Human Rights Unit of my Department, in co-ordination with other Departments concerned, prepares the reports required under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
As outlined in paragraph 8.64 of the White Paper, the Department of Equality and Law Reform prepares the report due under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
