Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 270: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has plans to develop a national action plan for human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46513/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Government policy in relation to human rights and equality matters has been to target areas of concern by the development of specific National Action Plans and national strategies. Examples of these, in so far as my Department is concerned, include the National Action Plan against Racism, the National Women's Strategy and the National Disability Strategy. At present, my Department is responsible, as a matter of priority, for the inter-departmental committee established to advise on and monitor the actions required to enable the State to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Disability Act 2005, underpinned by the National Disability Strategy, will meet a considerable portion of the Convention's requirements.

The Department is also responsible for the coordination of Ireland's reports to the United Nations on the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. These reports update the legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures identified to give effect to the provisions of the Convention and are a measure of the Government's achievements on the issues in question in the Convention.

The Deputy will also be aware of the role of the independent Human Rights Commission which operates under the Human Rights Acts 2000 and 2001. The Commission has a strategic plan "Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in Ireland 2007 — 2011" setting out its views on the development and implementation of human rights policy in Ireland.