Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 11

Written Answers. - Report of United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

35 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the conclusions, if any, his Department has come to having studied the report which the United Nations Human Rights Committee released of its findings after examining the compliance of Ireland with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the action, if any, he and the Government intend to take in regard to the seven specific recommendations made by the Committee to the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

Ireland ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 8 December 1989. Our first report under Article 40 of the Covenant was the subject of hearings before the Human Rights Committee in Geneva on 12, 13 and 14 July 1993. The Irish delegation was led by the Attorney General who was accompanied by representatives of my Department and the Departments of Justice and Equality and Law Reform.

At its meeting on 28 July the Human Rights Committee adopted its Comments on Ireland's report. The committee expressed its satisfaction with the high quality of the report and the constructive dialogue engaged in by the Irish delegation. The committee expressed particular appreciation for the fact that the report had been published in Ireland by my Department well in advance of the hearings. It also noted with appreciation the willingness of Ireland to involve NonGovernmental Organisations in the debate surrounding the reporting process and the openness displayed towards their critical observation. As the Deputy has noted, the committee made a number of specific recommendations. In summary, these address the following areas:

—the compatibility of Irish legislation with the Covenant and the question of incorporating its provisions into Irish law;

—the State of Emergency, the Emergency Powers Act and the Special Criminal Court;

—Garda powers;

—Freedom of expression and censorship;

—Equality issues;

—The Travelling Community;

—Training in human rights for the Garda and legal profession as well as human rights in education.

The Comments of the Human Rights Committee are being considered by the Government Departments and offices responsible for the legislative and policy aspects of the matters raised. I am satisfied that the Departments and offices concerned are carefully examining the committee's comments.