Human rights are a priority concern for the Irish Government. This priority is reflected, inter alia, in our commitment to ratify key international human rights instruments to which Ireland is not yet a party. Given the significance of this year for the observance and promotion of human rights, marketing as it does the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is our intention to ratify the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment during the course of 1998.
In order to be in a position to give effect to the Convention, it will be necessary, however, to introduce domestic legislation regarding the offence of mental torture. I have been advised that work is well advanced in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on this necessary legislation. That Department is confident that the said legislation will be placed on our statute books in the coming months. Once this legislation has been passed into law, I will seek Dáil approval for ratification of this important human rights Convention.