Paul McGrath
Question:82 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's current priorities at the Council of Europe. [10026/03]
Written Answers. - Council of Europe.
As I stated in my reply to a question from Deputy Bernard Durkan on 27 June 2002, the following priorities were adopted at the Council of Europe's last summit in 1997: human rights, democratic stability, the rule of law, culture and education and social cohesion. This is the framework in which Ireland pursues our key priorities at the Council of Europe and supports the core function of the Council to ensure that fundamental human values are the basis for the development of democratic states governed by the rule of law throughout the European continent.
Ireland attaches the highest priority to the work of the Council of Europe and we continue to see the council performing a key function in Europe in this century. Through its legal instruments, the council has developed a uniqueacquis and unrivalled legitimacy in the field of democracy and human rights. Ireland is determined to ensure that the European Convention on Human Rights remains the essential reference point for the protection of human rights in Europe as a whole.
As I stated above, we attach priority importance to the council's work in human rights. Most recently, Ireland has been pursuing its initiative to support and reform the European Court of Human Rights. Following a report prepared by Ireland's Permanent Representation in Strasbourg, the ministerial session in November adopted a declaration on the court instructing that work be accelerated in order that substantive decisions on reforms can be taken at the next session in May 2003.
In the field of democratic stability and social cohesion, Ireland has committed €1.8 million in funding for Council of Europe human rights and democratisation projects in Russia and South East Europe for the years 2002-04. In addition, the Department of Finance is currently preparing the necessary legislation to allow for Ireland's accession to the Council of Europe Development Bank.
There have been several recent Council of Europe meetings in Ireland, including, on 24 March last, a seminar on the European Social Charter organised in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Irish Centre for European Law and the Council of Europe. In November 2002, the Human Rights Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission jointly hosted meetings in Dublin and Belfast for the national human rights institutions of the Council of Europe member states. Other recent seminars have examined issues related to Roma and Traveller rights and self-government.
The ministerial session in November 2002 approved a draft protocol to the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. Ireland welcomed this new mechanism which will help ensure that the response to terrorism balances effective protection of society with the safeguarding of human rights. The protocol will be opened for signature during the next ministerial session on 15 May 2003 and I hope that Ireland will be in a position to sign on that date.
Ireland continues to support the reinforcement of co-operation between the Council of Europe and other organisations, in particular the European Union and the OSCE. In the CFSP context, Ireland, along with our EU partners, promotes full compliance with the obligations of Council of Europe membership by all member states and encourages all member states to continue to bring their institutions, legislation and practice fully in line with Council of Europe standards. Following the undertakings given by the new authorities to fulfil all their commitments to the council, including enhanced co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Ireland welcomed the accession last week of Serbia and Montenegro as the Council's 45th member state. In this context, Ireland is making a sig nificant bilateral contribution to Council of Europe assistance for the new state to prepare for ratification of the Convention on Human Rights.
As we look ahead to medium-term issues I can confirm that Ireland supports the proposal for a third summit meeting to consolidate the future role of the Council of Europe, on condition that the summit is well prepared, with a guarantee that it will reinforce and not diminish that role.