Skip to main content
Normal View

Human Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Questions (293)

Clare Daly

Question:

293. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made in terms of the implementation of the optional protocol against torture, OPCAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23650/18]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy is probably aware, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission launched research into the implementation of the Optional Protocol against Torture (OPCAT) in Ireland last October. This report outlined the Commission’s position on what should be the primary considerations for the State in making progress towards ratification and implementation of the OPCAT, including recommendations in respect of the designation and coordination of a national preventative mechanism (NPM) under OPCAT.

Earlier this year, having considered this research, my Department circulated the IHREC’s research to relevant stakeholders for their comments and observations. Observations were sought in particular on the following:

whether existing sectoral authorities could carry out OPCAT inspections;

using an expanded office of the Inspector of Prisons to deal with OPCAT inspections in the Justice Sector (Office of Inspection of Places of Detention); 

what role/relationship could such an office have with existing agencies;

could any existing agencies carry out OPCAT type inspections on behalf of an Office of Inspection of Places of Detention;

using this expanded Office of Inspection of Places of Detention to act as a co-ordinating NPM; 

any views on how agencies could interact with the co-ordinating NPM for OPCAT.

These stakeholders comprised those organisations with policy or operational responsibility in respect of inspection arrangements across the ambit of the NPM regime provided for in OPCAT as well as advisory and advocacy organisations which have expressed an interest in the ratification of OPCAT.

These stakeholders included:

- Department of Health

- Department of Defence

- Department of Children and Youth Affairs

- Garda Inspectorate

- Irish Penal Reform Trust

- The Children’s Ombudsman

- PRILA (Research project on Prisons: the rule of law, accountability and rights)

- Irish Council for Civil Liberties

- Inspector of Prisons

- SAGE (Support and Advocacy Service for Older People)

- IHREC

The last of these submissions was received in April 2018 and my Department is now in the process of considering them.  Following this process which is expected to conclude during the summer, my officials will be meeting with a number of stakeholders including the newly appointed Inspector of Prisons.  These meetings will help my Department develop further a policy position for agreement and will ultimately inform the development of legislative proposals to enable ratification of OPCAT.

Top
Share