Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Today is a big day for Ireland. The Minister for Justice and Equality is presenting a report on our performance and delivery of human rights to the United Nations Council on Human Rights this morning. A live stream from the council is being broadcast in Buswells Hotel. Each UN member will question and raise issues with the Minister about Ireland's performance in various areas. I spent time at the hotel earlier and many of the recurring questions related to our performance on places of detention for juveniles, prisons - an issue which has been raised repeatedly in the House, the predominance of denominational education, health, equality and, especially, the need for us to urgently ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is Ireland's first audit.

We can all recall the great presentation to the House last week by Dr. Maurice Manning. It is important that on the return of the Minister for Justice and Equality we have a debate on how we are performing on human rights issues. We scrutinise legislation but it is time we scrutinised our rights. One never knows when one's rights will be tested, when one will need them or when they do not exist until something happens to one or one's family or friends but then it is often too late. We need to take a macro, responsible view on this. I commend the various stakeholders in civic society that compiled the report, Your Rights. Right Now. I also strongly commend Senator Katherine Zappone who is attending the UN council meeting on her own merits as an observer. This would also be an important debate to have on her return. I would like support from all sides on this issue.