Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, and it optional protocol. [4311/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 23 December, 1985. Ireland is strongly committed to the implementation of the Convention. States Parties to the Convention must submit periodic reports to the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women on progress in implementing the Convention. These reports describe in detail the measures undertaken by States Parties to implement the rights enshrined in the Convention.

Ireland submitted its first report under the Convention in 1987. Most recently, our fourth and fifth consolidated reports were submitted in 2003 and examined by the Committee at their 33rd session in July 2005. Ireland's delegation was led by the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with Special Responsibility for Equality Issues, Deputy Frank Fahey. The Committee issued concluding observations in July 2005 and these are being given full consideration. The Government will also continue to submit regular periodic reports to the Committee in line with its obligations under the Convention.

Ireland ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on 7 September, 2000. The Optional Protocol came into force on 22 December, 2000. It establishes an individual complaints procedure that gives individuals the right to bring complaints, alleging breach of the provisions of the Convention, to the UN Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women. The Protocol also establishes a general enquiry procedure that allows the Committee to conduct enquiries into serious and systematic abuses of women's rights. The Committee has not to date received any complaints or requests for the instigation of an inquiry relating to Ireland under the Optional Protocol.

Ireland is a strong supporter of the United Nations' efforts to eliminate discrimination against women. We are represented each year at the Commission on the Status of Women by a delegation of representatives from my Department and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and will continue to input actively into the work of the Commission and the related UN bodies which deal with the rights of women.