Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects the ratification of the optional protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27564/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On 18 December 2002, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Draft Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OP-CAT). Ireland, along with other EU partners, fully supported the draft Optional Protocol and worked for its adoption at the UN General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights. The object of the Protocol is to establish a system of regular visits undertaken both by an independent international body and by national bodies to places of detention with a view to preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The international body is to be a subcommittee of the UN Committee Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. At the national level, States may maintain, designate or establish one or several bodies for the prevention of torture at the domestic level. As regards our signature of the Optional Protocol, with a view to subsequent ratification, the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform informed the Dáil on Tuesday, 8 November 2005 that he is reviewing national legislation to ascertain whether legislative changes would be required before signature and ratification of the Optional Protocol. I understand that he has commenced consultations with other Government Departments and Bodies, including the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science, in relation to arrangements for the inspection of institutions for which they are responsible.