Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1189. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment will be ratified by Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63023/21]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the inspection of places of detention Bill will be introduced in the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63024/21]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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1330. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 347 of 10 December 2020, the status of the ratification by Ireland of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2453/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1189, 1190 and 1330 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland signed the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT) but has yet to ratify this treaty.

Ireland has, of course, already signed and ratified the Convention itself. The Protocol provides for the establishment of bodies known as National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) which would inspect facilities where people can be held involuntarily.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ratify OPCAT and my Department is leading on the development of the legislation needed to facilitate the introduction of a multiple institution NPM model in this State which will allow for the ratification of OPCAT.

To this end, the General Scheme of Inspection of Places of Detention Bill is currently being drafted and I expect to be in a position to submit it to Government in the first quarter of this year. If approved, it will then be referred for drafting in the normal course.