Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013
733. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recent letter (details supplied) regarding the Senator Martin McAleese report into the Magdalen laundries; if he intends to respond to the committee via our Ambassador at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva or directly to the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27628/13]
View answerThe United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) monitors implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by its State parties. All State parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee. The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of concluding observations.
An examination of Ireland’s first national report on the measures taken to give effect to the undertakings under Article 19 of the Convention took place in Geneva in May, 2011. In its concluding observations the Committee requested Ireland to provide further information on its response to a number of the Committee’s recommendations. Ireland subsequently responded to the Committee on 31st July, 2012.
I can inform the Deputy that my Department has recently received a letter from the Rapporteur for the Follow-up on Concluding Observations of UNCAT. The Rapporteur has sought clarification and further information in relation to Ireland’s response of 31st July, 2012. This letter is currently being considered and my Department will issue a response through Ireland's Ambassador at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in due course.
