Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of requests or inquiries he has received from either the UN Committee Against Torture or the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment regarding Irish compliance with international obligations in the past three years; and the discussions or communications he has had with other parties in this regard. [39263/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has ongoing contact with the UN Committee Against Torture, CAT, and the Council of Europe's European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CPT, regarding a range of matters. Requests for information from the CPT tend to arise from its programme of periodic visits to Council of Europe member states. The last such visit to Ireland was on 20-28 May 2002, though Ireland is among ten member states the CPT intends to visit in 2006.

The report compiled on the basis of the 2002 visit was transmitted by the CPT to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 20 December 2002. The report looked at the living conditions, staff practices and legal safeguards in place at Garda stations, prisons, mental health establishments and detention centres for children. The response of the Government to the report was given on 18 September 2003 and addressed the issues raised in the report. The response also highlighted the actions taken by Ireland to implement the recommendations made by the committee. At the Government's request, both documents are available on the Council of Europe's website.

My Department is in ongoing contact with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform regarding Ireland's first report under the convention against torture, which is currently being compiled by that Department. The convention requires states parties to report to the CAT on the measures they have taken to give effect to their undertakings under the convention. When completed, Ireland's report will be submitted to the UN Committee Against Torture and will be followed by an appearance by Ireland before the committee.

My Department avails of all appropriate opportunities to reiterate Ireland's commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the convention against torture and the European convention for the prevention of torture.