Written answers
Tuesday, 16 April 2024
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
European Convention on Human Rights
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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139. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 28 February 2024, the annual costs to the State arising from Ireland’s ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights; the annual costs of our contributions towards the running costs of treaty bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16206/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland was one of the original members of the Council of Europe and continues to be a very strong supporter of its mission promoting and protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Ireland signed the European Convention on Human Rights on 4 November 1950, and ratified the Convention on 25 February 1953. The Convention entered into force in Ireland on 3 September 1953. Article 50 of the Convention provides that the expenditure of the European Court of Human Rights will be borne by the Council of Europe.
The Council of Europe is financed through the obligatory and voluntary contributions of its member states, including Ireland. Such contributions are subject to variation annually.
An overview of the Council of Europe’s total expenditure for 2023, including towards the European Court of Human Rights, can be found on page 2 of the 2023 Adjusted Council of Europe Programme and Budget 2022-2025, which can be accessed at the following link:
rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=0900001680a9663f
A breakdown of Ireland’s 2023 contributions towards the Council of Europe are as follows:
Ireland’s Council of Europe Mandatory Contributions (2023):
| 2023 Amount (€) | |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Budget | € 4,419,764.76 |
| Pension Reserve Fund | €606,656.57 |
| Extraordinary Budget | €88,304.22 |
| Pension Scheme Adjustment | €19,116.00 |
| Youth Foundation | €60,513.75 |
Ireland’s Council of Europe Partial Agreements (2023):
| Partial Agreements | 2023 Amount (€) |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopeia/EDQM | - €10,013.12* |
| Development Bank/CEB | €20,375.98 |
| Pompidou Group | €40,938.37 |
| Eurimages | €413,974.08 |
| Venice Commission | €69,650.74 |
| Youth Card | €5,422.35 |
| Graz Centre | €40,887.10 |
| GRECO | €21,088.49 |
* Participating Member States receive an annual credit for any profits generated under the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM). The allocation of this credit balance is at the discretion of the Department of Health.
Ireland’s Council of Europe ‘Other' Contributions (2023):
| Project | 2023 Amount (€) |
|---|---|
| Council of Europe (CoE) - Human Rights Trust Fund | €100,000 |
| CoE - Contact Group in Belarus | €50,000 |
| CoE - Cooperation activities in Kosovo | €30,000 |
| CoE - Istanbul Convention Programme | €40,000 |
| CoE - European SOGI Governmental Expert Network | €15,000 |
| European Court of Human Rights - Webcasting of Hearings | €80,000 |
| Ukraine Register of Damages | €6520.46 |
| European Court of Human Rights – reducing backlog of cases | €100,000 |
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