Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the creation of a cross-party Oireachtas committee which could liaise with the Irish Human Rights Commission and other interested non-governmental organisations to seek ways of addressing Ireland's human rights shortcomings as identified in the United Nation universal periodic review of our State which took place on 6 October 2011. [28808/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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While I have already indicated that I want to see enhanced arrangements for the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which I have announced will be created by end-February next, to report directly to the Oireachtas, the precise arrangements for this and indeed the establishment of Oireachtas committees is a matter for the Houses and not for me as a Minister. That said, the issues discussed at the UPR encompassed a broad range of areas some of which fall under the aegis of my Department and some under other Departments and it is open to any Oireachtas Committee to follow up these issues for discussion and comment where they fall within its terms of reference.

In my opening remarks at the meeting of the Human Rights Council, I indicated Ireland's fullest commitment to the UPR process and my intention to pay the fullest attention to recommendations of the Human Rights Council. I emphasised that our commitment to human rights is based on the principle that Governments must always act with the intention of respecting the rights of the individual and human dignity.

I think it fair to say that the dialogue in Geneva on 6 October with the members of the UN Human Rights Council demonstrates an international appreciation of Ireland's strong record and our ongoing commitments in the area of human rights. This is reflected in the positive contributions from UN Member States and the recommendations made. Only 15 recommendations were made that we were not able to accept, whereas I was able on the day to indicate our acceptance of 62 recommendations, on the basis that they cover issues that we are already committed to tackling and in respect of which measures are in hand.

In the case of a further 49 recommendations, the precise wording of the recommendation is such that it requires examination before we respond. In these cases, we will respond on or before the 12th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in March next: In many of these cases, what is at issue is potential difficulties due to the precise wording of the recommendation, rather than a disagreement in principle on the substantive issue.