Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 31 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 9

Written Answers. - Convention on Racial Discrimination.

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

275 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is his intention that Ireland will sign and become a party to the United Nations Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and if so, when.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

It is the Government's intention that Ireland will become a party to this convention at the earliest possible opportunity.

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted and opened for signature and ratification by the UN General Assembly in December 1965. It entered into force in January 1969. Ireland signed the convention on 21 March 1968. A copy of the convention is available in the Dáil Library.

In 1989, as part of the process of accession by Ireland to a number of international human rights instruments, the Oireachtas enacted the Prohibition of Incitment to Hatred Act which provides for protection from any form of incitement to hatred against groups of persons in the State on account of their race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins. Subsequently, Ireland ratified the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Further measures may be required to enable Ireland ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This question is under consideration by the Office of the Attorney General.