Vol. 509 No. 1
88 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received the report of the Council of Europe committee on the prevention of torture on conditions in Irish prisons following the committee's visit in 1998; if so, when he will publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19712/99]
My Department has received a copy of the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CPT. This report is confidential under the Council of Europe convention which established the CPT. However, it is open to the Government to request the CPT to publish the report and if requested to do so the CPT is obliged to publish the report together with any comments of the Irish Government. It is my intention in the near future to seek the approval of the Government to request the CPT to publish the report.
