Vol. 475 No. 6
42 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Justice the circumstances under which the Government has failed to ratify the UN Convention against torture which was signed by the Irish Government in 1992; and whether the Government will firmly commit to ratifying this convention before Dáil Éireann is dissolved. [3224/97]
Certain changes are necessary in our domestic law before Ireland would be in a position to ratify the Convention referred to by the Deputy. Work on the preparation of the necessary legislation is at an advanced stage in my Department. The Deputy will appreciate that this measure is just one component of a very extensive programme of law reform — particularly in the area of criminal law — which I have under way at present. While I am not in a position to give a definite timescale for completion of the legislation in question, I hope to advance it as quickly as possible subject, of course, to other priorities within my legislation programme.
