asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will seek at the UN to have the death penalty abolished universally.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Death Penalty.
39.
As I stated in reply to a similar question in July last, the subject of capital punishment is already under consideration by the United Nations, specifically by the Economic and Social Council of which Ireland is not at present a member.
By its Resolution 1745 of 16th May, 1973, the Economic and Social Council declared that the main objective to be pursued was that of progressively restricting the number of capital offences with a view ultimately to the abolition of capital punishment.
The Economic and Social Council's reports are considered by the third committee of the UN General Assembly which concerns itself with humanitarian problems. Ireland, of course, participates in this committee and will support the Economic and Social Council's recommendations when they come before the third committee in the form of a draft resolution.