Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to publish an action programme that will respond to the observations of the United Nations Human Rights Committee made recently under Article 40 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. [38363/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is required under Article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to submit periodic reports to the United Nations on the progress made in implementing the Covenant's provisions.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee considered Ireland's third periodic report under the ICCPR, which was submitted in February 2007, at its meetings held in Geneva on 14/15 July 2008 and adopted concluding observations at its meetings held on 22/23 July 2008. Ireland's delegation for the consideration of the report was headed by the Attorney General, Mr. Paul Gallagher S.C., and the Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Seán Aylward.

In its concluding observations the Committee welcomed a number of legislative and other measures taken by Ireland to improve the protection and promotion of human rights recognised under the Covenant since the examination of the second periodic report, and noted progress made in a number of areas. The Committee also noted some subjects of concern and made a number of recommendations in this regard. The Committee, in accordance with its rules of procedure, has requested that Ireland should provide relevant information within one year, i.e. by 30 July 2009, on implementation of three of the Committee's recommendations (made in paragraphs 11, 15 and 22 of its concluding observations document) and has requested that information on all the remaining recommendations be provided in Ireland's fourth periodic report which is due to be submitted by 31 July 2012. I have arranged that relevant documentation relating to the Committee's consideration of Ireland's report, including the Committee's concluding observations, be placed on the Department of Foreign Affairs website so as to publicise the contents.

Ireland attaches high priority to the mandate and work of the UN Human Rights Committee. The concluding observations of the Committee are being closely examined by the responsible Departments and will be given full and careful consideration, in line with normal procedures, with a view to meeting the deadlines set by the Committee.

The Department of Foreign Affairs coordinates contributions from the various Government Departments with competence in areas of policy corresponding to particular articles of the Covenant. There are no plans to publish an action programme on the Committee's observations and this is not something that the Committee itself has recommended.