Parliamentary Question: Human Rights Issues

1st July 2003

503. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if and when his Department proposes to publish the report of the visit of a delegation of the Council of Europe's committee for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment from 20 to 28 May 2002; if he has an objection to the publication of this report; and when it will become available to Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. [18750/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): As I have already indicated to the House, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which operates under the aegis of the Council of Europe, was established under the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment in 1987. The committee is composed of lawyers, medical doctors, prison experts, parliamentarians, etc. from the member states and carries out its task by periodic and ad hoc visits. During these visits, the committee has the right of unimpeded access at any time of the day or night to any place where persons are detained, whether it be a prison, a Garda station or a mental hospital, and are entitled to speak in private to any detained person.
The CPT visited Ireland for inspection purposes in May of last year and the report to the Irish Government on this visit has been received in my Department. In line with the provisions of the convention, the Government must respond to the CPT on the findings contained in the report. I will be bringing the report and the proposed responses to its findings to Government very shortly.

In line with the policy of previous Governments, I expect to publish the report along with the responses to the findings once these have been approved by Government and conveyed to the CPT.