Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 6

Written Answers. - UN Covenants.

John Bruton

Question:

136 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has approved the plans of the Attorney General to visit the United Nations headquarters in Geneva in July 2000 to represent the Government and to discuss implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10618/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen):

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – ICCPR – is one of the core instruments available to the United Nations for the purposes of the protection and promotion of human rights. A key provision of the covenant is a periodic reporting requirement, whereby states parties provide information on the measures adopted within their jurisdiction to give effect to the rights proclaimed therein.

The second report by Ireland under the covenant was submitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations in September 1998. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has informed the Government that the UN Human Rights Committee will examine the report on 13-14 July of this year in Geneva. A delegation of representatives from the various Departments which contributed to the report will travel to Geneva for this examination. The importance which the Government attaches to the examin ation is illustrated by the fact that the Attorney General will lead the delegation. The Standing Interdepartmental Committee on Human Rights, which is chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs, is co-ordinating the preparations for the examination.

The Government welcomes the opportunity both to report to the UN Human Rights Committee on measures adopted to give effect to the provisions of the covenant, and to the detailed examination by, and comments of, the Human Rights Committee.