Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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332. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if Ireland has yet to ratify the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25546/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has signed but has yet to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT). Ireland has, of course, already signed and ratified the Convention itself.

The Protocol provides for the establishment of bodies known as National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) 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.

I am pleased to advise that the General Scheme of the Inspection of Places of Detention Bill is currently being finalised and I expect to be in a position to submit it to Government shortly. If approved, it will then be referred for drafting and I hope that it will be possible to enact the Bill without undue delay. Once that is done, Ireland will be in a position to ratify the Optional Protocol.