Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 1

Written Answers. - EU Report.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

37 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland's report under the International Covenant on Ecomomic, Social and Cultural Rights will be considered by the UN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22379/97]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

Ireland's first report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was submitted to the appropriate UN committee on 30 October 1996.

There is currently a backlog of reports waiting to be considered by this committee. As Ireland's report is sixteenth on the list of reports awaiting examination, it is unlikely to be considered before November 1999. However, the exact date of examination will not be confirmed until May 1998 when the committee is next scheduled to convene.

Ireland's second report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is currently being prepared by the human rights unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs, in co-operation with all other relevant Government Departments. These Departments have been asked to provide information on administrative, legislative and constitutional developments and policy initiatives undertaken since the completion of the first report. This information gathering process is at a relatively advanced stage and it is envisaged that the second national report will be finalised in the spring of 1998. On completion, it will be published and submitted to the UN committee in Geneva. It is understood that the committee will then examine both our first and second reports under this covenant together.