Vol. 533 No. 5
71 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is in receipt of a copy of a letter from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 on ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture; if he will respond to the points raised in the letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9373/01]
A letter was received from the person referred to on 21 March 2001 and a response issued on 28 March 2001.
Ireland signed the UN Convention Against Torture in 1992. Following the enactment of the Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention against Torture) Act, 2000, the Department of Foreign Affairs with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are now finalising arrangements to enable Ireland to ratify the convention. It is hoped it will be possible to ratify the convention shortly and it is anticipated that a declaration will be made under article 22 of the convention recognising the competence of the committee against torture to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals within Ireland who claim to be victims of a violation of the provisions of the convention.
