Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

In order to be perfectly orderly, I have asked before when it is the intention of the Government to ratify the UN convention on disability. In asking that question, I must point out that in announcing Ministers of State the Taoiseach did not specify where responsibility for human rights lies. Human rights was attached to the Department of Foreign Affairs. When the Minister of State with responsibility for integration policy, Deputy Conor Lenihan, was appointed human rights was left out. Regarding the ratification of the UN convention on disability or many other conventions, the question arises as to where the legislative accountability and responsibility lies.

Human rights is not mentioned in the mandate of any of the senior Ministers, nor does it arise in the specification of any of the Ministers of State. Is it still with the Department of Foreign Affairs? Will that Department take the initiative of signature on behalf of Ireland or is responsibility lurking in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in which case I might as well give up asking about ratification of any UN conventions because it will not happen? The Taoiseach is a former Minister for Foreign Affairs and will recall the central part that the human rights emphasis had in the White Paper.

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