Written answers

Wednesday, 22 October 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

UN Convention Against Torture

9:00 pm

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to ratify the optional protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture. [36455/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and All Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 December, 2002. Its provisions came into force on 22 October, 2006. Ireland signed it on 2 October, 2007. The Protocol is an important addition to the 1984 UN Convention against Torture which Ireland ratified in accordance with the Criminal Justice (UN Convention against Torture) Act 2000.

The Protocol establishes a national and international inspection system for places of detention which is modelled to a significant extent on the existing system in operation under the auspices of the Council of Europe Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. We have been a party to that Convention since 1989. The Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) set up under that Convention has already conducted and reported in detail on 4 inspection visits to Ireland in 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2006.

The Attorney General has advised that legislation will be necessary for the creation of the National Preventive Mechanisms provided for under the Protocol. Preliminary work has commenced in my Department in that regard.

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