Vol. 464 No. 5
18 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in advance of Ireland's participation in the Olympic Games, he intends to apprise the US Administration of Ireland's view regarding states putting people to death having regard to the fact that the Olympic Games are being held in Georgia where 6 per cent of all USA executions have taken place since 1976; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8345/96]
Ireland is a party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, both of which provide for the abolition of the death penalty. Ireland is to the forefront of international efforts to abolish the death penalty and will continue to press for its abolition in the appropriate international fora such as the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Council of Europe.
The US administration is well aware of Ireland's views on the death penalty which have been consistently expressed in international fora and in relevant bilateral contacts.
