Seanad debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2003

European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Second Stage.

 

Two recent additional protocols to the convention, Protocol 12 dealing with the substantive issue of discrimination, which we have signed subject to ratification, and Protocol 13 dealing with the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances – which, following the result of the recent constitutional referendum, we have signed and ratified as well – are not included in the Bill simply because their provisions are not yet in force. Article 1 of the convention is not included but there is no need to do so. This is due to the fact that the obligation to respect human rights as defined by the convention, and to secure them to everyone within the jurisdiction of the contracting states to the convention, has already been accepted by the State since the time it ratified the convention and its coming into effect in 1953. That obligation has been binding on us since that time and that is the reason the Long Title refers to the Bill giving further effect to the convention.

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