asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the United Nations Convention on the elimination of Racial Discrimination in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on his proposals in this regard.
Written Answers. - UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
39.
Ireland is a signatory to the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination but has not become a party to this instrument pending completion of a detailed scrutiny of the legislative and other implications of ratification which is at present under way.
Priority had been given in this scrutiny to matters arising in the context of the ratification of the UN Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This has now been completed and I am hopeful that it will be possible within a reasonably short period of time to bring forward the necessary legislation, including legislation on the advocacy of racial hatred, which will enable the ratification of the two UN Covenants to proceed. Legislation on the advocacy of racial hatred will also facilitate the process of ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.