Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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43. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the proceedings from the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Ireland's human rights record; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10134/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I indicated in my remarks in Geneva Ireland places great importance on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). We consider the UPR process, by which the international community holds each UN Member State to account in relation to its individual human rights record, as a real and practical expression of the fact that human rights are not solely of domestic concern, but rather a legitimate concern of the international community. It is an important and complementary process to the other country-specific examinations and mechanisms of the United Nations, including within the Human Rights Council and the treaty bodies. Ireland has a domestic record of protecting and promoting human rights as well as our contribution to advancing human rights at an international level. We recognise that all of us can learn and benefit from dialogue with other States and indeed – at treaty level – with the Expert Committees of the UN system.

In this constructive spirit, Ireland engages actively in the UPR of other States and were pleased that 93 other States took the opportunity to intervene in the UPR of Ireland. I and the members of the delegation that I led listened carefully and with an open mind to all 262 recommendations made during the review of Ireland. We were able to confirm immediately that 152 recommendations have been accepted, 13 recommendations are not accepted and that we will constructively examine the remaining 97 recommendations and provide our responses for the 33rd Human Rights Council session in September 2016.