Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to ratify Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38406/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As a signatory to Protocol 12, Ireland keeps the question of ratifying the Protocol under review. The major issue is the lack of clarity as to the precise extent of the obligations imposed on State parties by the very broad general prohibition on discrimination in Article 1 of the Protocol. My Department will continue to watch closely how the European Court of Human Rights interprets the scope of this Article when it comes to rule on individual cases. In the meantime, I have no plans to ratify the Protocol at this time.