Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister said it would not be appropriate. It is an extraordinary proposition for a Minister for Justice to say that it would not be appropriate for Ireland to adhere to its international legal commitments. It is an extraordinary proposition that any Minister of any government of this State would say that it is inappropriate or not appropriate for Ireland to adhere to the international legal order and to the rule of law. I say this because the rule of law is contingent upon states adhering to their commitments, whether they agree with them or not.

We have had this type of politics play out in the US where a duly-elected executive determined that it does not like international law and it is a bit messy, so it would be inappropriate for it to adhere to it. We have had that type of politics quite recently in the United Kingdom, our nearest neighbour. It is very unlike the UK. It was a brief departure, one hopes, from their otherwise steadfast commitment to the rule of law, at least publicly.

I refer to what has happened in Northern Ireland but, we, of course, Ireland, were able to bring the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the European Court of Human Rights because of our commitment to institutions such as this. Now the Minister is turning around and is saying that when she does not like the answer that it would be inappropriate. I cannot think of anything more inappropriate from the Minister for Justice.

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