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ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌß?€'Ú%sdE+Ú%s?ßà b àThis€record€is€subject€to€correction.Ð z&È , ÐÌà b àCorrections€should€be€submitted€in€one€of€the€working€languages.€€TheyÐ (V". Ðshould€be€set€forth€in€a€memorandum€and€also€incorporated€in€a€copy€of€theÐ Ï(#/ Ðrecord.€€They€should€be€sent€òòwithin€one€week€of€the€date€of€this€documentóó€toÐ –)ä#0 Ðthe€Official€Records€Editing€Section,€room€E.4108,€Palais€des€Nations,€Geneva.Ð ]*«$1 ÐÌà b àAny€corrections€to€the€records€of€the€public€meetings€of€the€Committee€atÐ ë+9&3 Ðthis€session€will€be€consolidated€in€a€single€corrigendum,€to€be€issuedÐ ²,'4 Ðshortly€after€the€end€of€the€session.Ð y-Ç'5 ÐÌGE.93„17343€€(E)Ð /U)7 ÐÐ  Î/*8= ÐÑØbÑÑ}‰ÑÖ€ÿÿÖÖ€ ÿÿÖÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!++7BÓà@û û “àòòThe€meeting€was€called€to€order€at€3.05€p.m.óóˆÐ Ô ÐÌCONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE€40€OF€THEÐ bŽ ÐCOVENANT€(agenda€item€4)€(òòcontinuedóó)€Ð )U ÐòòÌInitial€report€of€Irelandóó€(CCPR/C/68/Add.3)€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð ·ã ÐÌ1.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€the€Irish€delegation€to€respond€to€questions€put€toÐ E q Ðit€by€members€at€the€1235th€meeting.€€Ð  8 ÐÌ2.à b àòòMr.€WHELEHANóó€(Ireland)€said€that€Ireland's€delay€in€ratifying€theÐ š Æ  ÐCovenant€had€been€occasioned,€not€by€any€reluctance€to€submit€its€laws€andÐ a   Ðpractices€to€the€scrutiny€of€international€bodies„€it€had,€for€example,€beenÐ (T  Ða€party€to€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€since€1953„€but,€rather,Ð ï  Ðby€its€concern€that€the€absence€of€certain€laws€(on€incitement€to€hatred,€forÐ ¶â  Ðexample)€should€first€be€remedied€so€as€to€enable€Ireland€to€comply€with€theÐ }©  Ðobligations€imposed€by€the€Covenant.€€Ireland€had€subscribed€to€the€firstÐ Dp  ÐOptional€Protocol€at€the€same€time€as€it€had€ratified€the€Covenant.€Ð  7  ÐÌ3.à b àA€number€of€members€had€raised€the€question€of€direct€incorporation€ofÐ ™Å Ðthe€Covenant€into€Irish€law,€and€of€the€so-called€dualist€system.€€HisÐ `Œ Ðdelegation€understood€their€concerns€in€that€regard,€but€believed€that€thereÐ 'S Ðwere€no€easy€ways€to€address€those€issues,€which€were€of€long€standing,€sinceÐ î Ðthey€also€arose€in€relation€to€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights.€Ð µá ЀÌ4.à b àSome€members€had€asked€whether€the€Covenant€could€be€invoked€in€IrishÐ Co Ðdomestic€law.€€The€answer,€which€followed€from€the€nature€of€the€dualistÐ  6 Ðapproach€to€international€law,€was€that€the€international€instrument€itselfÐ Ñý Ðcould€not€be€invoked€directly€by€a€litigant€before€a€domestic€court.€€AÐ ˜Ä Ðlitigant€could,€however,€invoke€the€implementing€measure€that€had€been€made€aÐ _‹ Ðpart€of€the€domestic€law.€€In€the€case€of€many€conventions€and€treaties,€thatÐ &R Ðmeasure€was€a€statute€enacted€by€the€Oireachtas€in€terms€identical€to€that€ofÐ í Ðthe€international€instrument.€€Where€the€Covenant€was€concerned,€however,€thatÐ ´à  Ðwas€not€the€case.€€The€reason€lay,€not€solely€in€the€nature€of€the€dualistÐ {§! Ðapproach,€but€in€the€combination€of€that€approach€with€a€system€affordingÐ Bn" Ðprimacy€to€constitutional€norms€which€stipulated€that€all€law€conflicting€withÐ  5# Ðthose€norms€was,€to€the€extent€of€that€conflict,€invalid.Ð Ð ü$ ÐÌ5.à b àThe€option€of€incorporating€the€Covenant€by€way€of€ordinary€legislation,Ð ^"Š& Ðin€the€precise€terms€used€in€the€Covenant,€was€not€an€attractive€one,Ð %#Q' Ðparticularly€where€those€many€rights€that€already€formed€part€of€IrishÐ ì#( Ðconstitutional€law€were€concerned.€€It€would€be€wholly€inappropriate€that€theÐ ³$ß) Ðsame,€or€virtually€the€same,€legal€norm€should€exist€on€two€different€levelsÐ z%¦ * Ðof€the€legal€system.€€The€level€of€ordinary€legislation€should€concern€itselfÐ A&m!+ Ðeither€with€matters€not€dealt€with€by€the€fundamental€law,€or€with€theÐ '4", Ðdetailed€working€out€of€the€principles€stated€in€the€fundamental€law.€Ð Ï'û"- ÐFurthermore,€a€two„level€approach€would€be€ineffective.€€Either€the€provisionÐ –(Â#. Ðin€ordinary€law€differed€from€the€fundamental€norm,€in€which€case€it€wasÐ ])‰$/ Ðineffective€to€the€extent€that€it€differed,€or€it€was€the€same,€in€which€caseÐ $*P%0 Ðit€was€superfluous.€€Direct€incorporation€could€therefore€be€achieved€only€byÐ ë*&1 Ðway€of€constitutional€amendment.€€There€were€a€number€of€reasons€why€such€aÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðâ âcourse€should€not€be€lightly€embarked€upon.Ð y,¥'3 Ð6.à b àFirst,€it€did€not€seem€advisable€to€have€two€norms€„€or€three,€if€theÐ Ô Ðâ âEuropean€Convention€was€also€incorporated€„€dealing€with€the€same€issue€inÐ ›Ç ÐIreland's€fundamental€law.€€That€would,€however,€be€the€case€in€relation€toÐ bŽ Ðmost€of€the€rights€under€the€Covenant€if€it€were€to€be€incorporated€directlyÐ )U Ðinto€the€Constitution.€€Again,€the€addition€of€a€second€provision€was€likelyÐ ð Ðto€prove€either€redundant€or€a€source€of€confusion€or€even€conflict.Ð ·ã ÐÌ7.à b àFurthermore,€it€would€be€difficult€to€achieve€that€result€withoutÐ E q Ðjettisoning€the€jurisprudence€on€human€rights€built€up€over€the€years€in€theÐ  8 Ðcontext€of€the€Constitution.€€Almost€100cases€in€which€such€issues€arose€wereÐ Ó ÿ  Ðdecided€every€year€in€the€Irish€courts.€€It€would€be€particularly€difficult€toÐ š Æ  Ðpreserve€the€jurisprudence€in€relation€to€"unspecified"€rights€if€a€secondÐ a   Ðprovision€were€to€be€inserted€in€the€text€of€the€Constitution.Ð (T  ÐÌ8.à b àThere€was€also€the€risk€that€a€domestic€court€would€interpret€a€domesticÐ ¶â  Ðprovision€identical€to€one€in€the€Covenant€in€a€way€that€differed€from€theÐ }©  Ðinterpretation€thereof€by€the€Committee€itself.€€Finally,€the€process€ofÐ Dp  Ðamending€a€Constitution€by€popular€vote€was€a€difficult€one,€and€would€beÐ  7  Ðparticularly€hard€to€justify€where€no€substantive€change€in€the€law€wasÐ Òþ  Ðsought.Ð ™Å ÐÌ9.à b àThe€Government€of€Ireland€was€of€the€view€that€the€essential€obligationÐ 'S Ðderiving€from€the€Covenant€was€to€give€effect€to€the€rights€contained€therein,Ð î Ðbut€that€it€was€not€essential€to€do€so€using€the€precise€terminology€of€theÐ µá ÐCovenant€in€every€case.€€The€Government€believed€that€it€did€indeed€giveÐ |¨ Ðeffect€to€those€rights,€in€some€cases€by€means€of€a€pre„existingÐ Co Ðconstitutional€guarantee€(whether€in€the€same€terms€as€the€Covenant€or€inÐ  6 Ðsimilar€language€or€by€means€of€terms€implied€in€Ireland's€fundamental€law€byÐ Ñý Ðits€courts),€while€in€other€cases€it€believed€that€its€pre„existing€law€hadÐ ˜Ä Ðbeen€in€compliance€with€the€Covenant.€€In€a€few€cases,€legislative€provisionsÐ _‹ Ðhad€been€enacted€with€a€view€to€securing€Ireland's€ratification€of€theÐ &R ÐCovenant,€so€as€to€give€explicit€effect€to€its€provisions.€€The€GovernmentÐ í Ðconsidered€that€to€be€a€practical€and€satisfactory€approach.€€However,€it€didÐ ´à  Ðnot€have€a€closed€mind€in€relation€to€the€Committee's€suggestions,€andÐ {§! Ðappreciated€the€extent€of€many€members'€concerns€in€that€regard.€€It€wouldÐ Bn" Ðbear€those€concerns€in€mind€and€continue€to€consider€whether€appropriateÐ  5# Ðmeasures€could€be€taken€in€conformity€with€Ireland's€legal€traditions.€€TheÐ Ð ü$ ÐCovenant€was,€like€the€Irish€Constitution,€a€living€document,€and€theÐ —!Ã% ÐGovernment€was€conscious€that,€in€acceding€to€it,€it€had€undertaken€aÐ ^"Š& Ðcontinuing€obligation€to€examine,€and€improve€where€possible,€the€provisionsÐ %#Q' Ðof€its€domestic€law€in€the€light€of€the€standards€laid€down€by€the€Covenant.Ð ì#( ÐÌ10.à b àSome€degree€of€confusion€had€arisen€as€to€precisely€what€powers€wereÐ z%¦ * Ðcurrently€in€force€as€a€result€of€the€declaration€of€a€state€of€emergency€madeÐ A&m!+ Ðin€1976€pursuant€to€article€28.3.3€of€the€Constitution.€€The€answer€was€thatÐ '4", Ðthe€only€power€currently€existing€was€the€power€to€bring€section€2€of€theÐ Ï'û"- ÐEmergency€Powers€Act€into€force€by€means€of€a€government€order.€€Such€an€orderÐ –(Â#. Ðwas€not€currently€in€force,€and€therefore,€neither€was€section€2.€€It€wasÐ ])‰$/ Ðimportant€to€note,€in€relation€to€emergency€legislation€justified€by€referenceÐ $*P%0 Ðto€article€28.3.3,€that€the€Constitution€was€not€suspended€in€relation€toÐ ë*&1 Ðevery€aspect€of€such€legislation.€€In€the€case€of€òòin€re€Art.€26€and€theÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðâ âEmergency€Powers€Billóó,€1976,€[1977]€I.R.€159,€the€Supreme€Court€had€said:€€Ð y,¥'3 Ðà0 b àà ™ à"It€is€important€to€point€out€that€when€a€law€is€saved€fromÐ Ô Ðâ âinvalidity€by€Art.€28.3.3,€the€prohibition€against€invoking€theÐ ›Ç ÐConstitution€in€reference€to€it€is€only€if€the€invocation€is€for€theÐ bŽ Ðpurpose€of€invalidating€it.€€For€every€other€purpose€the€Constitution€mayÐ )U Ðbe€invoked.Ððbü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ àThus,€a€person€detained€under€section€2€of€the€Bill€may€not€onlyÐ ~ ª Ðquestion€the€legality€of€his€detention€if€there€has€been€non„complianceÐ E q Ðwith€the€express€requirements€of€section€2,€but€may€also€rely€onÐ  8 Ðprovisions€of€the€Constitution€for€the€purpose€of€construing€that€sectionÐ Ó ÿ  Ðand€of€testing€the€legality€of€what€has€been€done€in€purported€operationÐ š Æ  Ðof€it.Ða  bü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ àA€statutory€provision€of€this€nature€which€makes€such€inroads€uponÐ ï  Ðthe€liberty€of€the€person€must€be€strictly€construed.€€Any€arrest€soughtÐ ¶â  Ðto€be€justified€by€the€section€must€be€in€strict€conformity€with€it.€€NoÐ }©  Ðsuch€arrest€may€be€justified€by€importing€into€the€section€incidents€orÐ Dp  Ðcharacteristics€of€an€arrest€which€are€not€expressly€or€by€necessaryÐ  7  Ðimplication€authorized€by€the€section.ÐÒþ bü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ àWhile€it€is€not€necessary€to€embark€upon€an€exploration€of€all€theÐ `Œ Ðincidents€or€characteristics€which€may€not€accompany€the€arrest€andÐ 'S Ðcustody€of€a€person€under€that€section,€it€is€nevertheless€desirable,€inÐ î Ðview€of€the€submissions€made€to€the€Court,€to€state€that€the€section€isÐ µá Ðnot€to€be€read€as€an€abnegation€of€the€arrested€person's€rights,Ð |¨ Ðconstitutional€or€otherwise,€in€respect€of€matters€such€as€the€right€ofÐ Co Ðcommunication,€the€right€to€have€legal€and€medical€assistance,€and€theÐ  6 Ðright€of€access€to€the€courts.ÐÑýbü#bü# ЀÌà0 b àà ™ àIf€the€section€were€used€in€breach€of€such€rights€the€High€CourtÐ _‹ Ðmight€grant€an€order€for€release€under€the€provisions€for€habeas€corpusÐ &R Ðcontained€in€the€Constitution.€€It€is€not€necessary€for€the€Court€toÐ í Ðattempt€to€give€an€exhaustive€list€of€the€matters€which€would€render€aÐ ´à  Ðdetention€under€the€section€illegal€or€unconstitutional."Ð{§!bü#bü# ÐÌ11.à b àA€further€question€arose€as€to€whether€the€courts€could€review€theÐ  5# Ðexistence€of€the€state€of€affairs€underlying€the€declaration€of€a€state€ofÐ Ð ü$ Ðemergency.€€In€the€case€already€quoted,€the€Supreme€Court€had€expresslyÐ —!Ã% Ðreserved€that€question€for€future€determination€and€it€was€therefore€possibleÐ ^"Š& Ðthat€in€an€appropriate€case€the€courts€would€be€prepared€to€review€such€anÐ %#Q' Ðissue.Ð ì#( ÐÌ12.à b àA€number€of€members€of€the€Committee€had€asked€why€Ireland€had€notÐ z%¦ * Ðderogated€from€its€obligations€under€the€Covenant€pursuant€to€article€4.€€TheÐ A&m!+ Ðanswer€was€that€the€emergency€measures€adopted€pursuant€to€the€current€stateÐ '4", Ðof€emergency€did€not,€in€Ireland's€opinion,€involve€the€State€in€any€breach€ofÐ Ï'û"- Ðits€obligations€under€the€Covenant,€and€that€consequently€no€derogation€underÐ –(Â#. Ðarticle€4€was€required.Ð ])‰$/ ÐÌ13.à b àThe€existence€of€the€Special€Criminal€Court€was€based,€not€onÐ ë*&1 Ðthe1976declaration,€but€on€a€separate€proclamation€pursuant€to€the€OffencesÐ ²+Þ&2 ÐAgainst€the€State€Act,€1939,€and€article38.3.1€of€the€Constitution,€that€theÐ y,¥'3 Ðordinary€courts€were€inadequate€to€secure€the€effective€administration€ofÐ @-l(4 Ðjustice€and€the€preservation€of€public€peace€and€order.€€Both€the€existence€ofÐ Ô Ða€state€of€emergency€and€the€need€for€the€Special€Criminal€Court€had€beenÐ ›Ç Ðqueried€by€certain€members.€€He€wished€again€to€stress€that€the€State,€theÐ bŽ Ðrule€of€law€and€democracy€were€threatened€by€an€ongoing€campaign€related€toÐ )U Ðthe€problem€of€NorthernIreland.€€The€continuing€destruction€and€killingsÐ ð Ðundermined€the€rule€of€law€and€democracy.€€The€measures€taken€were,€in€theÐ ·ã Ðview€of€the€Irish€Government,€appropriate,€and€were€designed€to€ensure€theÐ ~ ª Ðfundamental€rights€of€citizens.€€All€those€measures€were€subject€to€judicialÐ E q Ðcontrol€and€were€kept€under€continuous€review€by€the€Government.€Ð  8 ЀÌ14.à b àWith€specific€regard€to€the€Special€Criminal€Court,€there€had€beenÐ š Æ  Ðbombings€of€courthouses€and€an€escape€from€a€courthouse€using€explosives,€andÐ a   Ðit€was€necessary€to€provide€armed€police€protection€for€judges€serving€on€theÐ (T  ÐSpecial€Criminal€Court.€€Threats€had€been€made€against€the€lives€of€judges,Ð ï  Ðmembers€of€the€judiciary€in€Northern€Ireland€had€been€singled€out€for€attack,Ð ¶â  Ðand€a€number€had€been€murdered€by€the€Provisional€IRA.€€The€Government€wouldÐ }©  Ðvery€much€wish€not€to€have€found€it€necessary€to€resort€to€measures€of€thatÐ Dp  Ðkind,€if€only€because€it€enabled€terrorist€organizations€to€claim€that€theyÐ  7  Ðhad€achieved€a€victory€by€forcing€the€adoption€of€such€measures.€€He€wished€toÐ Òþ  Ðemphasize€that€the€Special€Criminal€Court€differed€from€the€ordinary€courts€inÐ ™Å Ðonly€two€respects.€€First,€there€was€no€jury.€€Secondly,€instead€of€one€judgeÐ `Œ Ðthere€were€three€judges.€€In€every€other€respect€there€was€no€difference.€€TheÐ 'S Ðsame€rules€of€evidence€and€legal€representation€applied,€and€the€decisions€ofÐ î Ðthe€Court€were€reviewable€by€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeal.€€Ð µá ÐÌ15.à b àOn€policing€and€related€matters,€some€members€of€the€Committee€appearedÐ Co Ðto€be€under€a€misapprehension€regarding€the€period€for€which€persons€could€beÐ  6 Ðdetained.€€The€police€were€allowed,€under€strict€conditions,€to€detain€aÐ Ñý Ðperson€for€a€maximum€of€48€hours.€€At€the€end€of€that€period,€the€person€mustÐ ˜Ä Ðbe€released€or€charged€in€court.€€Very€stringent€regulations€must€be€adheredÐ _‹ Ðto€while€a€person€was€in€custody€in€a€Garda€station.€€The€member€in€charge€ofÐ &R Ðthe€station€was€given€specific€responsibility€for€ensuring€that€thoseÐ í Ðregulations€were€complied€with€and€that€the€person€in€custody€was€notÐ ´à  Ðill-treated.€€The€member€in€charge€must€also€keep€a€detailed€record€of€theÐ {§! Ðprocedures€followed€in€relation€to€the€person€in€custody.€€òòInteraliaóó,€theÐ Bn" Ðarrested€person€must€be€told€in€ordinary€language€of€the€offence€or€otherÐ  5# Ðmatter€in€respect€of€which€he€had€been€arrested,€and€informed€that€he€wasÐ Ð ü$ Ðentitled€to€see€a€solicitor€and€to€make€a€telephone€call€of€reasonableÐ —!Ã% Ðduration.€€Those€regulations€were€statutory.€Ð ^"Š& ÐÌ16.à b àIt€had€been€asked€whether€persons€could€be€forcibly€detained€by€theÐ ì#( Ðpolice€without€a€formal€arrest.€€Such€a€practice€was€not€lawful€in€Ireland.€Ð ³$ß) ÐòòDunne€v€Clintonóó€[1930]€I.R.366€had€held€that€there€was€no€half-way€houseÐ z%¦ * Ðbetween€the€liberty€of€the€subject,€unfettered€by€restraint,€and€an€arrest.€Ð A&m!+ ÐIn€òòThe€People€(Director€of€Public€Prosecutions)€v€Shawóó€[1982]I.R.1,€WalshJ.Ð '4", Ðhad€said€that€"if€there€exists€a€practice€of€arresting€persons€for€the€purposeÐ Ï'û"- Ðof€assisting€the€police€in€their€inquiries€it€is€unlawful.€€In€suchÐ –(Â#. Ðcircumstances€the€phrase€is€no€more€than€a€euphemism€for€false€imprisonment."€Ð ])‰$/ ÐWere€the€police€to€engage€in€such€a€practice,€not€only€would€confessionsÐ $*P%0 Ðobtained€by€them€be€inadmissible€but€an€action€for€damages€would€lie.Ð ë*&1 Ѐ€Ð ²+Þ&2 ÐÐ  y,¥'3 Ð17.à b àQuestions€had€been€asked€about€the€staffing€of€the€Police€ComplaintsÐ Ô ÐBoard.€€There€had€been€a€problem€some€years€previously,€but€additionalÐ ›Ç Ðresources€had€been€made€available.€€The€annual€report€of€the€Complaints€BoardÐ bŽ Ðfor€1991€had€recorded€that,€with€the€provision€of€additional€staffingÐ )U Ðresources,€the€Board€now€had€available€the€complete€staffing€structure€andÐ ð Ðresources€needed€to€enable€it€to€meet€in€full€its€statutory€role€under€theÐ ·ã ÐAct.Ð ~ ª ÐÌ18.à b àOne€member€of€the€Committee€had€asked€what€were€the€"extraordinaryÐ  8 Ðcircumstances"€referred€to€in€paragraph62€of€the€Irish€reportÐ Ó ÿ  Ð(CCPR/C/68/Add.3)€in€which€an€unconvicted€person€could€be€punished.€€TheÐ š Æ  Ðanswer€was€clear€from€a€reading€of€the€full€passage€in€the€judgement€in€theÐ a   ÐòòO'Callaghanóó€case€from€which€the€statement€in€paragraph62€had€been€taken.€Ð (T  ÐThat€case€had€been€concerned€with€the€circumstances€in€which€bail€could€beÐ ï  Ðrefused€to€a€person€awaiting€trial.€€The€court€had€found€that€to€deprive€aÐ ¶â  Ðperson€of€bail€on€the€grounds€that€he€was€likely€to€commit€further€offencesÐ }©  Ðwas€impermissible.€€In€the€words€of€WalshJ.€in€the€Supreme€Court:Ð Dp  Ѐ€Ð  7  Ðà0 b à"In€this€country€it€would€be€quite€contrary€to€the€concept€of€personalÐ Òþ  Ðliberty€enshrined€in€the€Constitution€that€any€person€should€be€punishedÐ ™Å Ðin€respect€of€any€matter€upon€which€he€has€not€been€convicted€or€that€inÐ `Œ Ðany€circumstances€he€should€be€deprived€of€his€liberty€upon€only€theÐ 'S Ðbelief€that€he€will€commit€offences€if€left€at€liberty,€save€in€the€mostÐ î Ðextraordinary€circumstances€carefully€spelled€out€by€the€Oireachtas€andÐ µá Ðthen€only€to€secure€the€preservation€of€public€peace€and€order€or€theÐ |¨ Ðpublic€safety€and€the€preservation€of€the€State€in€a€time€of€nationalÐ Co Ðemergency€or€in€some€situation€akin€to€that."Ð 6bü#bü# ÐÌIn€its€context,€therefore,€the€finding€amounted€to€a€statement€in€favour€ofÐ ˜Ä Ðthe€liberty€of€the€individual,€rather€than€restricting€it.Ô € °¦ÔÔ € °¦ÔÐ _ë% ÐÌ19.à b àIt€had€been€asked€what€was€meant€by€"social€function"€in€the€secondÐ íy' Ðsentence€of€article€40.1€of€the€Constitution€(the€sentence€which€qualified€theÐ ´@( Ðgeneral€statement€of€equality€before€the€law).€€Basically,€the€intentionÐ {) Ðbehind€that€sentence€was€to€say€that€the€principle€of€equality€meant€not€onlyÐ BÎ* Ðthat€like€cases€should€be€treated€alike,€but€that€cases€which€were€unalikeÐ  •+ Ðshould€be€treated€differently.€€It€sought€to€limit€the€circumstances€in€whichÐ Ð \, Ðlegislation€might€validly€make€such€distinctions€to€those€where€there€wereÐ —!# - Ð"differences€of€capacity,€physical€and€moral,€and€of€social€function".€€TheÐ ^"ê . Ðeffect€was€that€"article€40€does€not€require€identical€treatment€of€allÐ %#±!/ Ðpersons€without€recognition€of€differences€in€relevant€circumstances.€€It€onlyÐ ì#x"0 Ðforbids€invidious€discrimination"€(per€O'Dalaigh€C.J.€in€òòO'Brien€v€KeoghóóÐ ³$?#1 Ð[1972]€I.R.€144).€€That€case,€which€had€related€to€the€different€limitationÐ z%$2 Ðperiods€for€the€bringing€of€actions€by€infants€in€the€custody€of€a€parent€toÐ A&Í$3 Ðthose€applying€to€infants€not€in€such€custody,€had€regarded€the€distinctionÐ '”%4 Ðmade€by€the€legislation€between€such€infants€as€one€related€both€to€moralÐ Ï'[&5 Ðcapacity€and€to€social€function.Ð –("'6 ÐÌ20.à b àOther€examples€of€differences€in€social€function€included€the€differenceÐ $*°(8 Ðbetween€a€father€of€a€child€begotten€by€an€act€of€rape€and€a€father€who€wasÐ ë*w)9 Ðmarried€to€the€mother€of€the€child€(òòThe€State€(Nicolau)€v€An€Bord€UchtalaóóÐ ²+>*: Ð[1966]€I.R.€567),€or€the€difference€between€a€police€officer€acting€as€aÐ y,+; Ðprosecutor€and€an€ordinary€member€of€the€public€doing€so€(òòDillane€v€IrelandóóÐ @-Ì+< Ðunreported,€cited€in€Kelly,€òòThe€Irish€Constitutionóó€(second€ed.)€at€p.€456).€Ð Ô ÐOf€course,€the€presence€of€a€difference€in€social€function€did€not€end€theÐ ›Ç Ðmatter.€€It€did€not€mean€that€any€discrimination€related€to€that€differenceÐ bŽ Ðcould€be€justified.€€The€legislation€must€have€"due€regard"€to€the€difference.€Ð )U ÐThe€Court€could€still€find€the€distinction€to€be€arbitrary,€excessive€orÐ ð Ðdisproportionate.€€But€the€absence€of€a€difference€in€moral€capacity€or€socialÐ ·ã Ðfunction€would€cause€a€discrimination€or€a€distinction€to€be€regarded€asÐ ~ ª Ðbreaching€the€equality€principle.Ð E q ÐÌ21.à b àThe€Committee€had€requested€clarification€of€the€fifth€sentence€ofÐ Ó ÿ  Ðparagraph€245€of€the€initial€report.€€In€Northern€Ireland,€generally€speakingÐ š Æ  Ðand€with€some€exceptions,€the€Protestant€population€were€unionist€(supportersÐ a   Ðof€the€union€with€Great€Britain)€and€considered€themselves€British€byÐ (T  Ðnationality,€whereas€Roman€Catholics€were€generally€nationalist€in€politicsÐ ï  Ðand€regarded€their€nationality€as€Irish.€€Those€patterns€would€also€haveÐ ¶â  Ðapplied,€though€to€a€lesser€extent,€in€the€south€of€Ireland€before€1922.€€InÐ }©  Ðthe€current€jurisdiction,€however,€it€appeared€(no€scientific€survey€of€theÐ Dp  Ðquestion€being€available)€that€the€minority€religions€supported€politicalÐ  7  Ðparties€right€across€the€spectrum.€€There€were€Protestant,€Jewish€and€MuslimÐ Òþ  Ðmembers€of€the€Oireachtas,€in€at€least€four€different€political€parties,€andÐ ™Å Ðmembers€of€the€minority€religions€did€not€appear€to€exhibit€a€pattern€of€partyÐ `Œ Ðallegiance€different€to€that€of€the€population€as€a€whole.Ð 'S ÐÌ22.à b àSeveral€members€had€asked€for€information€regarding€the€prohibition€ofÐ µá Ðtorture€in€Ireland.€€As€already€stated,€legislation€was€in€preparation€thatÐ |¨ Ðwould€enable€Ireland€to€ratify€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,Ð Co ÐInhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.€€Allegations€of€assault€andÐ  6 Ðsimilar€treatment€made€against€members€of€the€Garda€could€be€investigated€byÐ Ñý Ðan€independent€body€or,€if€the€person€making€the€allegations€so€wished,Ð ˜Ä Ðproceedings€could€be€taken€in€the€High€Court.€€Disciplinary€action€could€ofÐ _‹ Ðcourse€be€taken€against€any€member€of€the€Garda€found€to€have€misbehaved,€and,Ð &R Ðin€addition,€compensation€would€be€paid.€€The€courts€had€held€that€one€of€theÐ í Ðunspecified€personal€rights€under€the€Constitution€was€a€right€not€to€beÐ ´à  Ðtortured.€€There€had€never€been€a€finding€of€torture€either€in€the€IrishÐ {§! Ðcourts€or€before€any€competent€international€tribunal.Ð Bn" ÐÌ23.à b àOn€prison€matters,€including€the€availability€of€segregated€facilitiesÐ Ð ü$ Ðfor€women€and€young€offenders,€he€had€already€indicated€that€prison€policy€wasÐ —!Ã% Ðunder€review.€€With€regard€to€the€psychological€services€available,€the€numberÐ ^"Š& Ðof€psychologists€was€being€doubled.€€Psychiatric€services€were€available€toÐ %#Q' Ðall€prisoners,€such€services€being€supplied€by€the€local€Health€Boards.Ð ì#( ÐÌ24.à b àThe€question€of€imprisonment€for€debt€had€been€raised.€€No€person€wasÐ z%¦ * Ðimprisoned€in€Ireland€simply€for€inability€to€pay€money€due.€€If€the€questionÐ A&m!+ Ðof€enforcement€of€a€debt€arose,€the€District€Court€conducted€a€thoroughÐ '4", Ðexamination€of€the€person's€means,€to€establish€whether€or€not€that€person€wasÐ Ï'û"- Ðin€a€position€to€pay.€€If€after€that€examination€the€Court€was€satisfied€thatÐ –(Â#. Ðthere€was€capacity€to€pay,€it€might€order€payment€in€one€or€more€instalments.€Ð ])‰$/ ÐThe€District€Court€orders€were€subject€to€appeal€to€the€Circuit€Court,€and€toÐ $*P%0 Ðreview€in€the€High€Court.€€Only€after€refusal€to€pay€at€that€stage€did€theÐ ë*&1 Ðquestion€of€imprisonment€arise,€and€then,€since€the€Court€had€satisfied€itselfÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðthat€there€was€capacity€to€pay,€the€imprisonment€resulted€from€failure€to€obeyÐ y,¥'3 Ða€court€order,€not€from€inability€to€pay€the€debt.Ð @-l(4 Ї25.à b àHe€noted€the€comments€made€by€some€members€concerning€the€declarationsÐ Ô Ðrequired€to€be€subscribed€to€by€the€President€and€by€judges€on€theirÐ ›Ç Ðappointment.€€No€similar€declaration€was€required€to€be€made€by€Ministers€ofÐ bŽ Ðthe€Government.€€His€delegation€would€reflect€further€on€how€those€provisionsÐ )U Ðshould€be€viewed€in€the€light€of€the€guarantee€of€freedom€of€conscience€andÐ ð Ðnon„discrimination€on€grounds€of€religious€belief€in€article44.2€of€theÐ ·ã ÐConstitution,€and€in€the€light€of€the€obligations€in€the€Covenant.€€Ð ~ ª ÐÌ26.à b àLegal€aid€was€available€in€serious€criminal€cases,€namely,€those€in€whichÐ  8 Ðthere€was€a€risk€that€an€accused€person€might€be€imprisoned.€€An€independentÐ Ó ÿ  ÐLegal€Aid€Board€funded€civil€cases€on€a€means„tested€basis.€€There€had€beenÐ š Æ  Ðcomplaints€that€the€Legal€Aid€Board€was€inadequately€resourced.€€The€1993Ð a   Ðprovision€for€the€scheme€had€been€increased€to€ð ð3.2million€from€ð ð2.6millionÐ (T  Ðin€1992.€€The€number€of€law€centres€had€been€increased€from€12to16.€€ThereÐ ï  Ðwas€also€a€government€commitment€to€establish€the€scheme€on€a€statutory€basisÐ ¶â  Ðand€to€increase€its€funding.€€Ð }©  ÐÌ27.à b àThe€Government€was€committed€to€making€changes€in€the€law€in€the€area€ofÐ  7  Ðtreatment€of€non„nationals.€€In€response€to€certain€concerns€expressed€byÐ Òþ  ÐCommittee€members,€he€pointed€out€that€in€a€recent€case€an€Algerian€nationalÐ ™Å Ðwho€had€challenged€a€decision€to€deport€him€had€been€legally€aided€to€bringÐ `Œ Ðhis€case€to€the€Supreme€Court€and€challenge€the€constitutionality€of€theÐ 'S Ðrelevant€legislation.Ð î ÐÌ28.à b àOn€censorship€of€books,€films€and€videos,€he€said€that€the€operation€ofÐ |¨ Ðthe€legislation€was€subject€to€judicial€control,€that€the€criteria€were€setÐ Co Ðout€in€legislation€and€that€appeal€mechanisms€were€available.Ð  6 ÐÌ29.à b àPolitical€parties€must€be€registered€with€the€Clerk€of€the€Dail,€who€wasÐ ˜Ä Ðrequired€to€register€any€party€applying€for€registration€that€was,€in€hisÐ _‹ Ðopinion,€a€genuine€political€party€organized€to€contest€a€Dail,€European€orÐ &R Ðlocal€election€in€the€State€or€in€part€of€the€State.€€If€the€application€wasÐ í Ðrejected,€an€appeal€could€be€made€to€the€Appeal€Board,€which€consisted€of€aÐ ´à  Ðjudge€of€the€High€Court€and€the€Chairmen€of€the€Dail€and€of€the€Seanad.€€ItÐ {§! Ðhad€been€asked€how€many€political€parties€in€Ireland€were€illegal.€€The€answerÐ Bn" Ðwas€none.€€Ð  5# ÐÌ30.à b àThere€was€no€legal€prohibition€on€civil€servants€taking€strike€action.€Ð —!Ã% ÐRegarding€their€participation€in€politics,€the€Electoral€Act,€1923,€providedÐ ^"Š& Ðthat€a€civil€servant€should€be€incapable€of€being€elected€to€or€sitting€as€aÐ %#Q' Ðmember€of€the€Oireachtas€unless€he€or€she€was€by€the€terms€of€employmentÐ ì#( Ðexpressly€permitted€to€be€a€member.€€The€terms€of€employment€of€civil€servantsÐ ³$ß) Ðdid€not€currently€contain€any€such€express€permission.€€All€civil€servantsÐ z%¦ * Ðabove€clerical€level€were€debarred€from€engaging€in€politics.€€Ð A&m!+ ÐÌ31.à b àA€member€of€the€Committee€had€raised€a€question€concerning€article41.2Ð Ï'û"- Ðof€the€Constitution.€€That€article€had€been€the€subject€of€public€debate€inÐ –(Â#. ÐIreland.€€It€had€been€criticized€because€many€people€found€the€assumptions€inÐ ])‰$/ Ðthe€text€objectionable,€but€it€had€never€in€fact€been€judicially€interpretedÐ $*P%0 Ðto€justify€discrimination€against€women.€€The€Second€Commission€on€the€StatusÐ ë*&1 Ðof€Women,€in€its€report€of€February1993,€had€recommended€the€deletion€ofÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðarticle€41.2.2,€and€an€amendment€of€the€Constitution€to€prohibit€all€forms€ofÐ y,¥'3 Ðdiscrimination,€either€direct€or€indirect,€based€on€sex.€€As€previouslyÐ @-l(4 Ðstated,€the€Government€was€preparing€comprehensive€anti„discriminationÐ Ô Ðlegislation€which€would€explicitly€cover€the€categories€of€sex,€marital€statusÐ ›Ç Ðand€parental€status.€€Whether€there€was€a€need€for€constitutional€amendmentsÐ bŽ Ðas€recommended€by€the€Second€Commission€on€the€Status€of€Women€would€have€toÐ )U Ðbe€determined€in€the€light€of€the€efficacy€of€the€anti„discriminationÐ ð Ðlegislation.Ð ·ã ÐÌ32.à b àAlthough€sex€equality€had€been€dealt€with€in€the€Irish€report€underÐ E q Ðarticle2€of€the€Covenant€for€the€sake€of€brevity,€it€was€clear€that€sexÐ  8 Ðequality€and€women„related€issues€were€relevant€to€many€other€articles€of€theÐ Ó ÿ  ÐCovenant,€and€a€mechanism€had€been€established€at€national€level€to€promoteÐ š Æ  Ðsex€equality€awareness€among€policy-makers.€€Details€of€the€existingÐ a   Ðemployment€equality€legislation€and€its€proposed€reinforcement€and€extensionÐ (T  Ðto€cover€other€equal€status€issues€had€already€been€given.€€The€equalÐ ï  Ðtreatment€of€women€and€men€in€social€security€was€based€on€the€implementationÐ ¶â  Ðin€domestic€law€of€EEC€Directives76/207,€86/378€and€86/613.Ð }©  ÐÌ33.à b àTwenty€years€after€the€enactment€of€equal€pay€legislation,€women'sÐ  7  Ðaverage€hourly€earnings€in€Ireland€were€only€68percent€of€those€of€men„€anÐ Òþ  Ðintractable€problem€which€no€country€had€managed€to€resolve.€€The€occupationalÐ ™Å Ðcrowding€of€women€in€low„wage€jobs,€for€example€in€the€clothing€industry,€andÐ `Œ Ðthe€fact€that€women€were€more€likely€to€have€an€interrupted€career€were€someÐ 'S Ðof€the€reasons€for€that€imbalance€in€Ireland.€€Efforts€were,€however,€beingÐ î Ðmade€to€tackle€the€problem€by€encouraging€girls€to€study€a€broader€range€ofÐ µá Ðsubjects€at€school,€training€women€in€non„traditional€careers€and€promulgatingÐ |¨ Ðeffective€maternity€protection€legislation€to€lessen€the€need€for€interruptionÐ Co Ðof€a€woman's€career.Ð  6 ÐÌ34.à b àUnder€the€general€heading€of€family„related€issues,€he€said€that€theÐ ˜Ä ÐSupreme€Court€had€interpreted€article41€as€referring€only€to€families€basedÐ _‹ Ðon€marriage.€€The€protection€of€other€families€was€based€on€statute€law€ratherÐ &R Ðthan€on€the€Constitution,€thus€equalizing€as€far€as€possible€the€twoÐ í Ðcategories.€€The€Status€of€Children€Act,1987,€placed€the€rights€of€childrenÐ ´à  Ðborn€outside€marriage€on€a€par€with€those€of€children€born€within€marriageÐ {§! Ðòòvis--visóó€their€parents,€except€that€the€father€was€not€automatically€theÐ Bn" Ðlegal€guardian€in€the€former€case.€€Cohabiting€couples€were€treated€on€theÐ  5# Ðsame€basis€as€married€couples€for€social€security€purposes.Ð Ð ü$ ÐÌ35.à b àIn€recognition€of€the€reality€of€marital€breakdown,€a€deserted€wife'sÐ ^"Š& Ðallowance€had€been€introduced€more€than€20years€previously€as€an€incomeÐ %#Q' Ðsupport€measure.€€Eligibility€was€determined€either€on€a€social€insurance€orÐ ì#( Ðsocial€assistance€basis.€€A€social€assistance€allowance€for€unmarried€mothersÐ ³$ß) Ðhad€been€introduced€in€1973,€payable€until€the€child€reached€18.€€Both€theÐ z%¦ * Ðdeserted€wife's€allowance€and€the€unmarried€mother's€allowance€had€beenÐ A&m!+ Ðsubsumed€into€a€lone€parent's€allowance€scheme€with€effect€from€November1990,Ð '4", Ðamalgamating€the€unmarried€mother's€allowance,€the€widow's€(non„contributory)Ð Ï'û"- Ðpension,€the€deserted€wife's€allowance,€the€prisoner's€wife's€allowance,€theÐ –(Â#. Ðwidower's€(non„contributory)€pension,€and€the€deserted€husband's€allowance.Ð ])‰$/ ÐSeparated€persons,€unmarried€fathers€and€husbands€of€prisoners€were€nowÐ $*P%0 Ðeligible€under€the€new€scheme.Ð ë*&1 ÐÌÐ  y,¥'3 Ð36.à b àFigures€for€1991€indicated€that€one€in€six€births€in€Ireland€tookÐ Ô Ðplaceoutside€marriage.€€While€there€was€no€divorce€in€Ireland,€a€significantÐ ›Ç Ðnumber€of€persons€were€living€in€non„marital€relationships.€€The€1986€censusÐ bŽ Ðhad€revealed€a€total€of€about€37,000persons€whose€marriages€had€for€someÐ )U Ðreason€broken€down,€and€the€most€recent€population€estimate€included€inÐ ð Ðthe1991€labour€force€survey€suggested€a€figure€of€about€47,000.€€ThoseÐ ·ã Ðfigures€might,€however,€represent€an€understatement,€since€in€some€brokenÐ ~ ª Ðmarriages€the€spouses€might€not€have€separated€physically€and€cases€where€theÐ E q Ðspouses€had€gone€through€divorce€proceedings€outside€Ireland€and€subsequentlyÐ  8 Ðremarried€were€not€included.Ð Ó ÿ  ÐÌ37.à b àThe€Irish€Government€fully€supported€adoption€of€the€declaration€onÐ a   Ðviolence€against€women€and€the€definitions€and€measures€outlined€in€it.€Ð (T  ÐIreland€had€co„sponsored€the€recent€resolution€on€the€declaration€adopted€byÐ ï  Ðthe€UnitedNations€Commission€on€the€Status€of€Women€and€had€stronglyÐ ¶â  Ðsupported€the€declaration€approved€at€the€Vienna€World€Conference€on€HumanÐ }©  ÐRights.Ð Dp  ÐÌ38.à b àAs€in€other€countries,€the€òòóóincidence€of€violence€against€women€in€IrelandÐ Òþ  Ðreported€to€the€authorities€was€rising.€€It€was€very€difficult€to€obtain€anÐ ™Å Ðaccurate€assessment€of€the€real€extent€of€domestic€violence,€but€one€positiveÐ `Œ Ðdevelopment€had€been€the€close€and€effective€liaison€between€the€GardaÐ 'S ÐSiochana€and€organizations€providing€support€to€abused€women.€€A€moduleÐ î Ðdealing€with€violence€against€women€had€been€included€in€Garda€SiochanaÐ µá Ðtraining,€covering€in€particular€the€sensitive€handling€of€victims.€€TheÐ |¨ ÐCriminal€Law€(Rape)€(Amendment)€Act,€1990,€had€strengthened€the€law€inÐ Co Ðrelation€to€rape„related€offences,€making€rape€within€marriage€an€offence€andÐ  6 Ðstipulated€that€cases€of€alleged€rape€must€in€future€be€tried€in€the€HighÐ Ñý ÐCourt.€€The€Criminal€Justice€(Unduly€Lenient€Sentences)€Act,1993,€hadÐ ˜Ä Ðprovided€for€appeal€against€such€sentences€and€imposed€an€obligation€onÐ _‹ Ðcourts,€when€determining€sentences€for€sexual€and€violent€offences,€to€takeÐ &R Ðinto€account€the€effect€on€the€victim.€€The€Act€had€also€empowered€the€courtsÐ í Ðto€order€a€convicted€person€to€pay€compensation€to€the€victim.€€In€addition€toÐ ´à  Ðthe€criminal€penalties€available€in€cases€of€domestic€violence,€the€lawÐ {§! Ðafforded€special€protection€to€married€couples.€€An€order€barring€the€abusingÐ Bn" Ðspouse€from€the€family€home€could€be€granted€by€the€District€Court€onÐ  5# Ðapplication€by€the€abused€spouse.€€Consideration€was€currently€being€given€toÐ Ð ü$ Ðthe€possibility€of€extending€the€legislation€to€cohabiting€couples.Ð —!Ã% ÐÌ39.à b àThe€State€recognized€the€important€role€of€the€Council€for€the€Status€ofÐ %#Q' ÐWomen€as€the€representative€of€women's€interests€and€concerns.€€Almost€theÐ ì#( Ðentire€budget€of€the€Council,€ð ð114,000€in€1993,€was€provided€by€theÐ ³$ß) ÐGovernment.€€The€Council€was,€however,€completely€independent€of€theÐ z%¦ * ÐGovernment€on€policy€issues,€being€answerable€only€to€its€constituentÐ A&m!+ Ðorganizations.€€It€was€an€informed€and€constructive€critic€of€governmentÐ '4", Ðpolicy,€which€its€representatives€regularly€discussed€with€ministers€andÐ Ï'û"- Ðsenior€policy-makers.Ð –(Â#. ÐÌ40.à b àAll€seven€recommendations€in€the€First€Statement€to€Government€of€theÐ $*P%0 ÐSecond€Commission€on€the€Status€of€Women€had€already€been€or€were€in€theÐ ë*&1 Ðcourse€of€being€implemented.€€A€guide€to€the€Commission's€report,€listingÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðall210recommendations€in€full,€would€be€made€available€to€the€secretariatÐ y,¥'3 Ðfor€consultation€by€interested€members.Ð @-l(4 Ї41.à b àIn€regard€to€the€human€rights€education€of€children€up€to€the€age€of12,Ð Ô Ðthe€Report€of€the€Review€Body€on€the€Primary€Curriculum€(Department€ofÐ ›Ç ÐEducation,€1990)€had€identified€the€following€as€being€among€the€aims€ofÐ bŽ Ðprimary€education:€€"To€help€children€to€understand€the€society€andÐ )U Ðenvironment€in€which€they€live,€the€interdependence€of€people€and€nations€andÐ ð Ðto€foster€a€spirit€of€cooperation€and€the€capacity€and€willingness€toÐ ·ã Ðcontribute€in€a€critical€but€positive€manner€towards€the€development€ofÐ ~ ª Ðsociety,€and€to€help€children€to€respect,€appreciate€and€understand€their€ownÐ E q Ðand€other€cultural€identities".Ð  8 ÐÌ42.à b àThe€Junior€Certificate€syllabus€for€civics€for€children€over12€containedÐ š Æ  Ðthe€following€guidelines:€€"The€course€will€have€as€a€prime€objective€theÐ a   Ðteaching€of€the€young€citizen€to€recognize€and€obey€the€lawful€authority,€toÐ (T  Ðhelp€preserve€law,€order€and€discipline,€to€respect€private€and€public€rightsÐ ï  Ðand€property€and€to€be€ready€to€defend€the€national€territory€should€the€needÐ ¶â  Ðarise.€€It€will€at€the€same€time€try€to€inculcate€as€fully€as€possible€anÐ }©  Ðunderstanding€and€acceptance€of€the€principles€of€personal€liberty,€ofÐ Dp  Ðjustice,€of€freedom€and€of€the€brotherhood€of€mankind".Ð  7  ÐÌ43.à b àThe€teaching€of€human€rights,€including€coverage€of€international€humanÐ ™Å Ðrights€agreements,€formed€part€of€legal€and€professional€study€courses€inÐ `Œ Ðthird€level€institutions.€€The€Government€was€satisfied€that€there€was€aÐ 'S Ðstrong€interest€in€and€awareness€of€human€rights€issues€in€the€community,€asÐ î Ðhad€been€attested€by€the€various€non„governmental€organizations€(NGOs)€inÐ µá Ðtheir€submissions€to€the€Committee.Ð |¨ ÐÌ44.à b àThe€Department€of€Education€made€no€distinction€between€differentÐ  6 Ðreligious€denominations€when€allocating€State€aid€to€schools€at€primary€andÐ Ñý Ðpost„primary€levels.€€The€majority€of€schools€receiving€support€from€the€StateÐ ˜Ä Ðwould€be€likely€to€belong€to€the€various€Christian€denominations€(Catholic,Ð _‹ ÐChurch€of€Ireland,€etc.),€but€the€State€supported€in€exactly€the€same€wayÐ &R Ðmultidenominational€schools,€a€number€of€Jewish€schools€and€also€a€recentlyÐ í Ðestablished€Muslim€school€in€Dublin.€€The€possible€contradiction€in€the€RulesÐ ´à  Ðfor€National€Schools,1965,€between€the€requirement€for€primary€teachingÐ {§! Ðpermeated€by€a€religious€ethos€and€spirit€and€the€right€of€parents€not€to€haveÐ Bn" Ðtheir€children€present€during€religious€education€was€well€understood,€and€aÐ  5# Ðvigorous€national€debate€was€currently€taking€place€on€that€issue.Ð Ð ü$ ÐÌ45.à b àThe€use€of€corporal€punishment€in€schools€was€prohibited€absolutely€atÐ ^"Š& Ðall€levels€and€in€all€circumstances.Ð %#Q' ÐÌ46.à b àIn€line€with€a€government€commitment,€a€Green€Paper€(consultativeÐ ³$ß) Ðdocument)€on€mental€health€had€been€published€in€1992.€€That€had€been€followedÐ z%¦ * Ðby€examination€of€submissions€from€the€general€public€and€consultations€withÐ A&m!+ Ðall€interested€parties;€the€Department€of€Health€was€now€preparing€proposalsÐ '4", Ðfor€new€mental€health€legislation,€covering€among€other€areas€revisedÐ Ï'û"- Ðregulations€on€the€detention€of€persons€with€mental€disability,€a€new€legalÐ –(Â#. Ðframework€to€safeguard€a€detained€patient's€right€in€relation€to€certainÐ ])‰$/ Ðcategories€of€treatment€and€other€general€safeguards€for€the€mentallyÐ $*P%0 Ðdisabled.€€A€Mental€Health€Review€Board€had€also€been€proposed€which€wouldÐ ë*&1 Ðreview€every€decision€to€detain€a€person€in€a€mental€health€facility€and€alsoÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðcases€of€long„term€detention.Ð y,¥'3 ÐÐ @-l(4 Ð47.à b àAll€citizens,€including€travellers,€enjoyed€the€constitutional€right€toÐ Ô Ðfreedom€of€movement.€€There€was€no€legislation€in€Ireland€which€would€empowerÐ ›Ç Ðthe€Garda€to€detain€travellers€because€of€their€nomadic€lifestyle.€€TravellersÐ bŽ Ðwere€known€to€have€higher€mortality€rates€and,€consequently,€a€shorter€lifeÐ )U Ðexpectancy,€than€the€population€as€a€whole,€their€high€accident€rate€andÐ ð Ðabove„average€susceptibility€to€congenital€problems€being€significantÐ ·ã Ðcontributory€factors.€€Travellers€who€remained€nomadic€had€higher€mortalityÐ ~ ª Ðrates,€especially€women,€than€those€who€had€opted€for€housing.€€The€burden€ofÐ E q Ðmanaging€domestic€responsibilities€in€a€physically€difficult€environmentÐ  8 Ðweighed€particularly€heavily€on€traveller€women,€and€their€high€birth€rateÐ Ó ÿ  Ðtended€to€exact€a€physical€toll.€€As€stated€previously,€the€Task-Force€onÐ š Æ  ÐTravellers€would€be€addressing€those€and€other€problems.Ð a   ÐÌ48.à b àHealth€provision€for€travellers€was€available€under€the€General€MedicalÐ ï  ÐService€Scheme.€€The€contract€signed€by€general€practitioners€under€the€schemeÐ ¶â  Ðprovided€for€all€eligible€persons€to€obtain€a€full€range€of€medical€servicesÐ }©  Ðin€another€area.€€Residence€lasting€less€than€three€months€was€deemed€to€beÐ Dp  Ðtemporary€residence.€€After€three€months,€persons€would€be€required€to€give€upÐ  7  Ðtheir€medical€card€in€their€local€area€and€re-register.Ð Òþ  ÐÌ49.à b àA€National€Education€Office€for€Traveller€Children€had€been€set€upÐ `Œ Ðin1991€with€the€task€of€determining€needs€and€promoting€and€facilitating€theÐ 'S Ðeducation€of€traveller€children.€€Traveller€parents€had€the€option€ofÐ î Ðenrolling€their€children€in€ordinary€classes€in€primary€schools€or€in€specialÐ µá Ðclasses€attached€to€normal€schools.€€A€number€of€Junior€Training€Centres€hadÐ |¨ Ðbeen€set€up€at€the€secondary-school€level€with€the€aim€of€tackling€the€problemÐ Co Ðof€early€school-leavers.€€A€further€tier€of€training€centres€would€provideÐ  6 Ðoccupational€and€educational€training€for€travellers€in€the€15-25€yearÐ Ñý Ðage-group.Ð ˜Ä ÐÌ50.à b àNo€travellers€were€known€to€hold€public€office,€probably€due€to€theÐ &R Ðmarginalization€outlined€in€the€report.€€A€traveller€candidate€had€stoodÐ í Ðunsuccessfully€in€a€recent€general€election€and€attracted€an€impressive€numberÐ ´à  Ðof€votes.€€There€was€a€growing€awareness€among€travellers€of€their€own€rightsÐ {§! Ðand€cultural€heritage.€€It€was€hoped€that€that€would€facilitate€theirÐ Bn" Ðparticipation€in€public€life.€€Nothing€in€electoral€law€prohibited€travellersÐ  5# Ðfrom€voting,€although€the€names€of€those€following€an€entirely€nomadicÐ Ð ü$ Ðlifestyle€might€not€be€on€the€electoral€register.€€Ð —!Ã% ÐÌ51.à b àIn€regard€to€the€impact€on€human€rights€of€the€situation€inÐ %#Q' ÐNorthernIreland,€he€had€already€outlined€the€special€measures€taken€toÐ ì#( Ðcounter€the€threat€from€subversive€organizations€and€in€particular€from€theÐ ³$ß) ÐProvisionalIRA.€€Those€measures€had€all€been€applied€within€the€framework€ofÐ z%¦ * Ðthe€law.€€The€Irish€Government€was€committed,€together€with€the€BritishÐ A&m!+ ÐGovernment,€to€the€full€implementation€of€the€Anglo-Irish€Agreement€of€1985.€Ð '4", ÐThe€Anglo-Irish€Intergovernmental€Conference,€established€by€that€Agreement,Ð Ï'û"- Ðprovided€a€forum€for€discussion€of€a€range€of€questions€which€includedÐ –(Â#. Ðsecurity,€legal€issues€and€matters€relating€to€human€rights.€€The€GovernmentÐ ])‰$/ Ðalso€wished€to€see€an€urgent€resumption€of€talks€on€the€problem€ofÐ $*P%0 ÐNorthernIreland€with€the€aim€of€achieving€an€agreed€basis€within€which€theÐ ë*&1 Ðnationalist€and€unionist€traditions€could€live€together€in€peace€andÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðreconciliation€to€the€benefit€of€all€Irish€people.Ð y,¥'3 ÐÐ @-l(4 Ð52.à b àIn€connection€with€the€reservations€made€by€Ireland€to€various€articlesÐ Ô Ðof€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€would€be€aware€that€the€reservation€made€toÐ ›Ç Ðarticle6(5),€relating€to€the€death€penalty,€had€been€withdrawn.Ð bŽ ÐÌ53.à b àAs€stated€previously,€the€Government€intended€to€bring€forward€veryÐ ð Ðshortly€legislation€to€deal€with€the€question€of€alleged€miscarriages€ofÐ ·ã Ðjustice€and€to€provide€a€legal€right€to€compensation€once€a€miscarriage€ofÐ ~ ª Ðjustice€had€been€proved.€€The€enactment€of€that€legislation€should€enableÐ E q ÐIreland€to€withdraw€a€second€reservation,€namely€that€made€to€article14€ofÐ  8 Ðthe€Covenant.Ð Ó ÿ  ÐÌ54.à b àIreland€had€made€an€interpretative€declaration€on€the€subject€of€theÐ a   Ðdissolution€of€marriage€in€connection€with€article€23.€€It€was€theÐ (T  ÐGovernment's€intention€to€hold€a€referendum€in€1994€to€enable€the€ConstitutionÐ ï  Ðto€be€amended€so€as€to€permit€the€enactment€of€divorce€legislation,€providedÐ ¶â  Ðthat€the€outcome€of€the€referendum€was€positive.€€It€would€then€be€possible€toÐ }©  Ðwithdraw€the€reservation€made€to€article23.€€The€need€to€maintain€theÐ Dp  Ðremaining€reservations€would€be€kept€under€continuing€scrutiny€by€theÐ  7  ÐGovernment€with€a€view€to€their€withdrawal€as€soon€as€possible.€€€€Ô € °¦ÔÔ €°¦ÔÐ Ò^ ÐÌ55.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó,€thanking€the€Irish€delegation€for€its€very€comprehensiveÐ `ì Ðreplies€to€the€points€raised€by€the€Committee,€warmly€welcomed€the€IrishÐ '³ ÐGovernment's€contribution€to€a€constructive€dialogue€with€the€Committee.Ð îz ÐÌ56.à b àòòMr.€WENNERGRENóó€said€that€although,€inevitably,€a€number€of€specificÐ |  Ðpoints€had€remained€unanswered,€it€was€abundantly€clear€that€the€rule€of€lawÐ CÏ! Ðwas€firmly€established€and€human€rights€respected€in€Ireland.€€The€Irish€legalÐ  –" Ðsystem€had€certain€particular€features,€partly€due€to€the€ongoing€situation€inÐ Ñ]# ÐNorthern€Ireland,€which€had€resulted€in€unusually€wide€discretion€beingÐ ˜$$ Ðgranted€to€the€police,€for€example€in€the€Public€Order€Act,€1993.€€Under€thoseÐ _ë% Ðcircumstances€it€was€essential€to€have€firm€rules€and€guidelines€for€theÐ &²& Ðpolice,€for€example€in€connection€with€arrest,€detention€and€the€use€ofÐ íy' Ðfirearms.€€One€particular€aspect€still€requiring€examination€was€the€practiceÐ ´@( Ðof€bringing€in€suspects€for€examination€without€charge,€which€had€beenÐ {) Ðdeclared€unlawful€on€many€occasions€but€had€nevertheless€not€been€eradicated.€Ð BÎ* ÐAt€the€same€time,€the€Emergency€Powers€Act€had€authorized€a€number€of€actionsÐ  •+ Ðwhich€could€be€held€to€derogate€from€various€articles€of€the€Covenant.Ð Ð \, ÐÌ57.à b àThere€were€a€number€of€other€points€which€he€would€like€to€bring€to€theÐ ^"ê . Ðattention€of€the€Irish€delegation.€€It€was€disappointing€that€no€mention€hadÐ %#±!/ Ðbeen€made€of€the€important€principle€of€habeas€corpus.€€In€another€field,Ð ì#x"0 Ðhowever,€the€adoption€of€the€Mental€Health€Act€would€greatly€ease€the€life€ofÐ ³$?#1 Ðmental€patients€and€bring€Ireland€into€conformity€with€the€general€practice€inÐ z%$2 ÐEurope.€€The€situation€of€asylum-seekers€had€been€highlighted€by€theÐ A&Í$3 Ðunfortunate€events€at€ShannonAirport,€where€the€behaviour€of€Customs,Ð '”%4 Ðimmigration€and€police€officials€towards€Kurdish€refugees€had€been€seriouslyÐ Ï'[&5 Ðlacking€in€respect.€€The€imprisonment€of€persons€for€debt€was€incompatibleÐ –("'6 Ðwith€article€11€of€the€Covenant€and€should€be€prohibited.€€In€the€JuniorÐ ])é'7 ÐCertificate€syllabus€for€civics,€to€which€reference€had€been€made,€theÐ $*°(8 Ðteaching€of€the€freedom€and€brotherhood€of€mankind€should€in€his€view€haveÐ ë*w)9 Ðbeen€placed€first€rather€than€last,€since€it€was€a€subject€which€has€all€tooÐ ²+>*: Ðoften€forgotten.Ð y,+; ÐÐ @-Ì+< Ð58.à b àòòMr.€HERNDLóó€warmly€welcomed€the€withdrawal€by€the€Irish€Government€of€itsÐ Ô Ðreservation€in€regard€to€capital€punishment.€€He€was€aware€of€theÐ ›Ç Ðcharacteristics€of€a€dualist€legal€system€such€as€that€of€Ireland,€but€it€wasÐ bŽ Ðessential€when€applying€the€law€of€the€land€that€the€provisions€of€theÐ )U ÐCovenant€should€not€be€forgotten.€€Like€Mr.Wennergren,€he€was€concerned€atÐ ð Ðthe€existence€of€imprisonment€for€debt.€€Greater€emphasis€should€be€placed€onÐ ·ã Ðadministrative€measures€to€ensure€payment,€such€as€distraint.Ð ~ ª ÐÌ59.à b àIt€was€essential€to€ensure€that€any€new€legislation€was€in€conformityÐ  8 Ðwith€international€obligations€assumed€by€the€State€in€question.€€The€CriminalÐ Ó ÿ  ÐJustice€Public€Law€Bill,€for€example,€which€was€currently€before€Parliament,Ð š Æ  Ðincluded€wilful€obstruction€as€an€offence€punishable€by€a€fine,€which€might€beÐ a   Ðfound€not€to€be€compatible€with€the€provisions€of€article€21€of€the€CovenantÐ (T  Ðon€the€right€of€peaceful€assembly.Ð ï  ÐÌ60.à b àòòMr.€MAVROMMATISóó€said€that€the€report,€its€oral€introduction€and€the€veryÐ }©  Ðsatisfactory€responses€to€questions,€including€his€own,€had€left€him€in€noÐ Dp  Ðdoubt€as€to€the€healthy€respect€that€existed€in€Ireland€for€human€rights€andÐ  7  Ðfundamental€freedoms.Ð Òþ  ÐÌ61.à b àMembers€of€the€Committee€had€been€pleased€to€note€that€the€IrishÐ `Œ Ðauthorities€would€be€reconsidering€certain€aspects€of€the€so-called€"dualist"Ð 'S Ðsystem€of€implementation€of€the€Covenant€in€the€light€of€their€queries€andÐ î Ðcomments.€€It€was€his€own€feeling€that€when„€as€was€greatly€to€be€hoped„€theÐ µá Ðstate€of€emergency€came€to€an€end,€Ireland€would€see€that€it€was€in€theÐ |¨ Ðcompany€of€very€few€countries€where€there€was€no€Bill€of€Rights€or€where€theÐ Co Ðprovisions€of€the€Covenant€were€not€embodied€in€domestic€law;€perhapsÐ  6 Ðheightened€awareness€of€that€would€lead€to€remedial€action€without€furtherÐ Ñý Ðdelay.Ð ˜Ä ÐÌ62.à b àGiven€the€seriousness€of€the€circumstances€that€had€resulted€in€the€stateÐ &R Ðof€emergency€and€its€prolongation,€it€must€be€acknowledged€that€the€measuresÐ í Ðtaken€in€Ireland€were€far€from€Draconian,€with€one€exception:€€the€policeÐ ´à  Ðforces€appeared€to€enjoy€more€powers€than€was€the€norm€in€European€countries.€Ð {§! ÐThat€was€a€matter€which,€to€his€mind,€also€merited€reconsideration,€especiallyÐ Bn" Ðwith€regard€to€"offences€relating€to€public€order",€where€he€assumed€thatÐ  5# Ðlegislation€was€intended€to€be€permanent€and€not€just€for€the€duration€of€theÐ Ð ü$ Ðemergency.Ð —!Ã% ÐÌ63.à b àMembers€of€the€Committee€had€also€noted€with€satisfaction€the€proposedÐ %#Q' Ðnew€measures€in€relation€to€miscarriages€of€justice,€especially€with€regard€toÐ ì#( Ðcompensation.€€There€remained,€however,€the€question€of€the€adequacy€of€theÐ ³$ß) Ðcommon€law€system€in€a€number€of€respects,€notably€in€preventing€suchÐ z%¦ * Ðmiscarriages.Ð A&m!+ ÐÌ64.à b àWelcoming€the€announced€measures€in€regard€to€such€matters€as€divorce,Ð Ï'û"- Ðfreedom€of€choice€and€the€right€to€life€of€the€unborn,€and€censorship,€heÐ –(Â#. Ðfound,€on€the€other€hand,€that€there€was€room€for€improvement€in€theÐ ])‰$/ Ðimplementation€of€article25€of€the€Covenant,€relating€to€the€political€rightsÐ $*P%0 Ðof€citizens,€especially€where€members€of€the€civil€service€were€concerned.Ð ë*&1 Ðâ âÐ ²+Þ&2 Ð65.à b àGenerally€satisfactory€replies€had€been€given€to€questions€about€theÐ Ô Ðtravelling€community;€he€would€merely€suggest€that€it€should€not€be€impossibleÐ ›Ç Ðto€devise€ways€and€means€of€placing€travellers€on€the€electoral€roll.€€Ð bŽ Ðâ âÌ66.à b àAll€in€all,€the€dialogue€between€the€Committee€and€the€Irish€delegationÐ ð Ðhad€been€of€high€quality,€and€that€was€a€cause€for€gratification.Ð ·ã ÐÌ67.à b àòòMrs.€EVATTóó€joined€in€commending€the€comprehensive€and€detailed€responsesÐ E q Ðby€the€Irish€delegation€to€the€Committee's€questions€and€comments;€manyÐ  8 Ðconcerns€had€been€allayed,€and,€for€her€part,€she€merely€wished€for€a€fewÐ Ó ÿ  Ðmoments€to€pursue€the€dialogue.Ð š Æ  ÐÌ68.à b àIt€was€clearly€Ireland's€firm€intention€to€comply€with€both€the€letterÐ (T  Ðand€the€spirit€of€the€Covenant;€she€especially€welcomed€the€importanceÐ ï  Ðattached€to€education€in€human€rights€and€the€willingness€to€involve€NGOs€inÐ ¶â  Ðthe€preparation€of€material€for€submission€to€the€Committee.€€As€a€citizen€ofÐ }©  Ða€common„law€country€herself,€she€appreciated€the€problems€inherent€in€theÐ Dp  Ðdual€system€of€implementation.€€Guarantees,€whether€national€or€international,Ð  7  Ðwere€important,€and€she€believed€that€Ireland€would€continue€to€be€beset€by€aÐ Òþ  Ðpotential€incompatibility,€if€only€in€certain€areas,€between€its€ownÐ ™Å ÐConstitution€and€laws€and€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant;€there€must,Ð `Œ Ðtherefore,€also€be€the€potential€to€resolve€such€incompatibility,€perhapsÐ 'S Ðthrough€legislation€in€a€Bill€of€Rights€form€for€certain€provisions€of€theÐ î ÐCovenant.Ð µá ÐÌ69.à b àWelcoming€the€substantiated€response€provided€by€the€Attorney€General€inÐ Co Ðrespect€of€the€"social€function"€mentioned€in€article€40.1€of€the€IrishÐ  6 ÐConstitution,€she€nevertheless€continued€to€believe€that€there€was€a€danger€ofÐ Ñý Ðunwarranted€assumptions€in€that€connection.Ð ˜Ä ÐÌ70.à b àShe€was€pleased€that€a€review€of€the€prison€system€was€under€way;€thatÐ &R Ðwas€particularly€important€as€far€as€women€and€young€offenders€were€concerned,Ð í Ðand€it€was€to€be€hoped€that€the€UnitedNations€Standard€Minimum€Rules€for€theÐ ´à  ÐTreatment€of€Prisoners€would€be€invoked€in€that€connection.Ð {§! ÐÌ71.à b àConcerning€equality€of€the€sexes€and€more€particularly€article41.2€ofÐ  5# Ðthe€Irish€Constitution,€she€submitted€that€a€problem€of€misplaced€assumptionsÐ Ð ü$ Ðpersisted€there€as€well;€she€was€glad€that€the€Commission€on€the€Status€ofÐ —!Ã% ÐWomen€had€recommended€the€deletion€of€that€article,€as€well€as€other€reforms.€Ð ^"Š& ÐIt€was€to€be€hoped€that€the€intention€to€enhance€sex€equality€awareness€amongÐ %#Q' Ðpolicy„makers€would€be€extended€to€cover€law€enforcement€agencies,€the€legalÐ ì#( Ðprofession€and€the€judiciary.Ð ³$ß) ÐÌ72.à b àIt€was€also€gratifying€that€the€question€of€the€definition€of€the€familyÐ A&m!+ Ðhad€been€addressed€in€the€context,€òòinter€aliaóó,€of€social€security;€sheÐ '4", Ðsuspected,€however,€that€a€number€of€disadvantages€persisted€as€a€result€ofÐ Ï'û"- Ðthe€absence€of€divorce,€notably€in€regard€to€property€rights€and€financialÐ –(Â#. Ðinterests.€€The€announced€legal€reforms€with€regard€to€violence€in€the€familyÐ ])‰$/ Ðwere€promising,€but€any€laws€in€that€connection€should€also€be€applicable€toÐ $*P%0 Ðcohabiting€couples.€€Also€with€regard€to€violence,€the€banning€of€corporalÐ ë*&1 Ðpunishment€was€to€be€welcomed.Ð ²+Þ&2 Ðâ âÐ y,¥'3 Ð73.à b àThe€Committee€would€always€be€greatly€exercised€by€matters€relating€toÐ Ô Ðâ âthe€liberty€of€the€subject€and€the€rule€of€law.€€But€while€the€IrishÐ ›Ç Ðdelegation€should€realize€that€the€state€of€emergency,€special€criminalÐ bŽ Ðcourts,€protection€from€torture,€legislation€on€public€order€and€other€issuesÐ )U Ðwould€remain€under€the€Committee's€close€scrutiny,€the€report€had€demonstratedÐ ð Ðprogress€in€many€areas,€and€in€the€review€of€reservations,€and€held€outÐ ·ã Ðserious€prospects€that€by€the€time€of€the€next€report€many€outstandingÐ ~ ª Ðproblems€would€have€been€resolved.Ð E q ÐÌ74.à b àòòMr.€AGUILAR€URBINAóó€said€that€his€initial€impression€of€the€excellence€ofÐ Ó ÿ  Ðthe€report€had€been€reinforced€by€the€Irish€delegation's€oral€introduction€andÐ š Æ  Ðits€responses€to€the€Committee's€questions.€€Ireland€obviously€attached€greatÐ a   Ðimportance€to€the€Covenant;€his€own€confidence€in€the€commitment€of€thatÐ (T  Ðcountry's€judiciary€to€respect€for€civil€and€political€rights€was€in€no€smallÐ ï  Ðway€due€to€the€contribution€by€such€eminent€authorities€as€Walsh€andÐ ¶â  ÐO'Dalaigh,€whose€rulings€were€referred€to€time€and€time€again€in€theÐ }©  Ðinformation€provided€both€by€the€Government€and€from€non„governmental€sources.Ð Dp  ÐÌ75.à b àThat€being€said,€some€doubt€persisted€in€his€mind€as€to€the€effect€ofÐ Òþ  Ðarticle28.3.3€of€the€Irish€Constitution€(concerning€the€securing€of€publicÐ ™Å Ðsafety€in€time€of€national€emergency)€on€the€exercise€of€human€rights.€€TheÐ `Œ Ðassurance€had€been€given€that€those€rights€were€not€infringed;€but€it€seemedÐ 'S Ðthat€the€article€could€lend€itself€to€different€interpretations.€€A€clearÐ î Ðenumeration€of€the€rights€which€might€under€no€circumstances€be€suspendedÐ µá Ðwould€be€reassuring,€as€would€a€clearer€explanation€of€the€regulation€of€theÐ |¨ Ðemergency€laws.Ð Co ÐÌ76.à b àThe€need€for€the€Special€Criminal€Court€had€been€substantiated€by€theÐ Ñý ÐAttorney€General€on€the€grounds,€òòinteraliaóó,€of€attacks€on€members€of€theÐ ˜Ä Ðjudiciary€in€NorthernIreland.€€But€how€could€a€legal€decision€in€the€RepublicÐ _‹ Ðbe€justified€by€acts€taking€place€outside€its€jurisdiction?Ð &R ÐÌ77.à b àHe€also€remained€concerned€about€the€matter€of€the€banning€of€broadcastÐ ´à  Ð(especially€televised)€interviews€with€persons€who€were€members€of€SinnFein,Ð {§! Ða€duly€constituted€political€party€in€the€Irish€Republic.€€Surely€suchÐ Bn" Ðprohibition€was€an€instance€of€discrimination,€and€at€variance€with€theÐ  5# Ðprovisions€of€article19,€and€perhaps€of€article25,€of€the€Covenant?Ð Ð ü$ ÐÌ78.à b àWell€aware,€as€a€Roman€Catholic€himself,€of€the€seriousness€of€theÐ ^"Š& Ðmatter,€he€nevertheless€expressed€considerable€concern€at€the€notion€thatÐ %#Q' Ðblasphemy€could€„€especially€in€a€country€committed€to€the€defence€ofÐ ì#( Ðrepublican€freedoms€„€be€construed€as€a€threat€to€public€order€and€possiblyÐ ³$ß) Ðdeemed€a€punishable€offence.€€He€further€believed€that€censorship€in€IrelandÐ z%¦ * Ðmight€on€occasion€be€applied€in€an€excessive€manner,€as€for€example€in€theÐ A&m!+ Ðseizure€of€personal€documents€at€Customs€posts.Ð '4", ÐÌ79.à b àConcerning€education€for€human€rights,€he€stressed€the€importance€ofÐ –(Â#. Ðextending€such€education,€with€special€reference€to€the€European€Convention€onÐ ])‰$/ ÐHuman€Rights€as€well€as€to€the€Covenant,€to€members€of€the€Garda.Ð $*P%0 ÐÌ80.à b àThe€response€to€questions€about€legal€aid€had€been€reassuring,€althoughÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðthe€Committee€would€certainly€welcome€confirmation€that€proper€defence€couldÐ y,¥'3 Ðbe€made€available€as€part€of€such€aid.Ð @-l(4 Ї81.à b àHe€endorsed€the€comment€by€Mr.Mavrommatis€concerning€the€desirability€ofÐ Ô Ðensuring€that€members€of€the€travelling€community€could€exercise€the€right€toÐ ›Ç Ðvote.Ð bŽ ÐÌ82.à b àHe€thanked€the€Irish€delegation€for€its€cooperation,€assuring€its€membersÐ ð Ðthat€the€Committee's€principal€concern€in€addressing€countries'€periodicÐ ·ã Ðreports€was€not€to€accuse,€but€rather€to€engage€in€positive,€mutually€helpfulÐ ~ ª Ðand€companionable€dialogue.Ð E q ÐÌÔ €°¦ÔÔ €°¦Ô83.à b àòòMr.€EL€SHAFEIóó€thanked€the€Irish€delegation€for€having€provided€theÐ Ó _  ÐCommittee€with€a€clearer€understanding€of€the€situation€in€Ireland€withÐ š &  Ðrespect€to€the€rights€enshrined€in€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€had€enjoyedÐ a í  Ðthe€constructive€dialogue€shared€with€the€Irish€delegation€and€was€greatlyÐ (´  Ðheartened€by€the€assurances€given€by€the€AttorneyGeneral€that€the€concernsÐ ï{  Ðexpressed€and€the€observations€made€would€be€promptly€conveyed€to€the€IrishÐ ¶B ÐGovernment.Ð }  ÐÌ84.à b àWhile€Ireland's€ratification€of€the€Covenant€and€the€first€OptionalÐ  — ÐProtocol€undoubtedly€represented€a€significant€step€forward,€it€appeared€thatÐ Ò^ Ðthose€instruments€were€not€widely€known€in€Ireland,€as€borne€out€by€the€veryÐ ™% Ðfew€communications€received€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€date.€€TheÐ `ì ÐCommittee€therefore€recommended€the€launching€of€appropriate€educationalÐ '³ Ðcampaigns€so€as€to€ensure€wider€dissemination€of€information€on€the€subject.€Ð îz ÐHe€welcomed€the€fact€that€the€report€had€been€published€in€an€easily€readableÐ µA Ðformat€and€made€available€to€the€general€public,€thereby€arousing€increasedÐ |  Ðinterest€among€NGOs€in€Ireland€and€worldwide.€€The€documentation€prepared€byÐ CÏ! Ðthose€organizations€had€proved€invaluable€to€the€Committee€in€its€work.€€Ð  –" ÐÌ85.à b àHe€noted€with€satisfaction€that€since€the€publication€of€the€report€theÐ ˜$$ ÐIrish€Government€had€signed,€ratified€or€acceded€to€a€number€of€otherÐ _ë% Ðimportant€international€human€rights€instruments,€including€the€ConventionÐ &²& Ðagainst€Torture€and€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€€Ð íy' ÐÌ86.à b àHe€also€welcomed€the€priority€accorded€by€the€Irish€Government€to€theÐ {) Ðupdating€of€domestic€legislation,€relating€òòinteraliaóó€to€the€criminal€justiceÐ BÎ* Ðsystem,€the€family€and€the€treatment€of€refugees€and€asylum„seekers,€so€as€toÐ  •+ Ðbring€it€into€line€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€Ð Ð \, ÐÌ87.à b àWhile€the€Attorney€General's€response€to€queries€concerning€the€legalÐ ^"ê . Ðstatus€of€the€Covenant€within€Ireland's€constitutional€and€legal€framework€hadÐ %#±!/ Ðproved€enlightening€in€some€respects,€a€number€of€difficulties€remained€to€beÐ ì#x"0 Ðresolved.€€Article29€of€the€Irish€Constitution€precluded€the€Irish€courtsÐ ³$?#1 Ðfrom€giving€effect€to€duly€ratified€international€agreements€such€as€theÐ z%$2 ÐCovenant€which€accorded€rights€and€imposed€obligations€in€addition€to€thoseÐ A&Í$3 Ðprovided€for€by€domestic€legislation.€€He€shared€the€AttorneyGeneral's€viewÐ '”%4 Ðthat€the€amendment€of€the€Constitution€by€popular€vote€would€be€a€difficultÐ Ï'[&5 Ðprocess,€but€expressed€the€hope€that€the€Irish€Government€would€fulfil€itsÐ –("'6 Ðobligations€under€the€Covenant€by€the€continual€review€and€improvement€ofÐ ])é'7 Ðnational€legislation€where€possible.€€In€that€connection,€he€stressed€theÐ $*°(8 Ðimportance€of€the€implementation€of€appropriate€international€standards,€asÐ ë*w)9 Ðhighlighted€by€the€recent€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights.Ð ²+>*: Ðâ âà b àÐ y,+; Ð88.à b àFurthermore,€although€the€Attorney€General's€explanations€concerning€theÐ Ô Ðâ âstate€of€emergency€in€Ireland€had€to€some€extent€allayed€the€Committee'sÐ ›Ç Ðapprehension€on€the€subject,€he€hoped€that€the€Irish€delegation€would€none€theÐ bŽ Ðless€convey€the€concerns€expressed€regarding€the€very€restrictive€draft€billÐ )U Ðof€law€before€the€Irish€Parliament.€€He€wondered€how€the€AttorneyGeneral'sÐ ð Ðremark€that€none€of€the€rights€in€the€Covenant€were€derogated€from€under€theÐ ·ã Ðstate€of€emergency€could€be€reconciled€with€legislation€along€the€linesÐ ~ ª Ðproposed€in€the€draft€bill€in€question,€if€sanctioned€by€Parliament.Ð E q ÐÌ89.€€Another€matter€of€concern€raised€by€the€Committee€which€must€be€addressedÐ Ó ÿ  Ðwas€the€ban€on€interviewing€representatives€of€certain€groups€associated€withÐ š Æ  Ðthe€conflict€in€NorthernIreland€despite€their€status€as€legal€politicalÐ a   Ðparties.Ð (T  ÐÌ90.à b àIn€conclusion,€he€said€he€looked€forward€to€the€publication€of€Ireland'sÐ ¶â  Ðsecond€periodic€report€in€the€firm€expectation€that€considerable€progressÐ }©  Ðwould€have€been€achieved€by€that€time.Ð Dp  ÐÌ91.à b àòòMr.€PRADO€VALLEJOóó€said€the€initial€report,€together€with€the€introductoryÐ Òþ  Ðremarks€by€the€Attorney€General€and€his€subsequent€replies€to€questions€raisedÐ ™Å Ðby€the€Committee,€provided€a€good€overall€picture€of€human€rights€problems€inÐ `Œ ÐIreland.€€In€general€he€was€satisfied€that€most€of€the€rights€enshrined€in€theÐ 'S ÐCovenant€were€well€protected€in€the€country.€€In€particular,€he€welcomed€theÐ î Ðcontinual€review€of€domestic€legislation€in€order€to€bring€it€into€line€withÐ µá Ðthe€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€Ireland€was€clearly€taking€its€obligationsÐ |¨ Ðunder€that€instrument€very€seriously,€and€had€amply€demonstrated€that€it€hadÐ Co Ðthe€political€will€required€to€achieve€that€end.€Ð  6 ÐÌ92.à b àNone€the€less€there€remained€several€major€areas€of€concern.€€The€firstÐ ˜Ä Ðwas€the€abuse€of€human€rights€by€the€Garda.€€Prior€to€the€submission€of€theÐ _‹ Ðreport,€the€Committee€had€received€information€on€a€regular€basis€from€aÐ &R Ðnumber€of€sources€which€indicated€an€increase€in€such€abuses.€€The€possibilityÐ í Ðof€providing€suitable€instruction€on€human€rights€for€police€officers€mustÐ ´à  Ðtherefore€be€looked€into.Ð {§! ÐÌ93.à b àMoreover,€current€restrictions€on€trade€union€activities€and€the€power€ofÐ  5# Ðworkers€to€negotiate€with€employers€also€required€further€consideration€with€aÐ Ð ü$ Ðview€to€some€improvement.Ð —!Ã% ÐÌ94.à b àMany€Committee€members€had€also€expressed€concern€regarding€theÐ %#Q' Ðexcessively€restrictive€legislation€on€abortion€as€well€as€the€related€issuesÐ ì#( Ðof€the€situation€of€the€family€and€the€right€to€divorce.€€As€a€citizen€ofÐ ³$ß) ÐEcuador,€which€had€been€one€of€the€first€Latin€American€countries€to€introduceÐ z%¦ * Ðappropriate€legislation€on€divorce€in€1905,€he€was€surprised€that€a€nation€asÐ A&m!+ Ðadvanced€as€Ireland€still€denied€its€citizens€that€fundamental€right.Ð '4", ÐÌ95.à b àThe€fact€that€the€Covenant€was€not€yet€incorporated€in€nationalÐ –(Â#. Ðlegislation€posed€a€major€problem,€despite€the€Attorney€General's€claims€thatÐ ])‰$/ Ðthe€current€system€did€not€jeopardize€its€implementation.€€It€was€undeniableÐ $*P%0 Ðthat€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€would€be€applied€much€more€easily€if€theyÐ ë*&1 Ðcould€be€invoked€before€national€courts.€Ð ²+Þ&2 Ðâ âà b àÐ y,¥'3 Ð96.à b àIn€spite€of€the€detailed€explanations€given€by€the€AttorneyGeneral,Ð Ô Ðâ âthere€remained€some€confusion€surrounding€the€legislation€governing€the€stateÐ ›Ç Ðof€emergency€in€the€country.€€While€a€more€thorough€examination€of€theÐ bŽ Ðlegislation€in€question€would€undoubtedly€prove€useful,€further€improvementsÐ )U Ðwere€none€the€less€required.Ð ð ÐÌ97.à b àLastly,€he€observed€that€the€legal€aid€available,€above€all€for€civilÐ ~ ª Ðcases,€did€not€satisfy€the€present€demands€of€Irish€citizens.€€The€Irish€legalÐ E q Ðsystem€appeared€to€be€somewhat€lacking€in€that€respect.€€Ð  8 ÐÌ98.à b àòòMr.€FODORóó€commended€the€Irish€delegation€on€its€detailed€replies€to€theÐ š Æ  Ðmany€questions€raised€by€the€Committee,€which€had€satisfied€most€of€itsÐ a   Ðconcerns€regarding€òòinter€aliaóó€the€registration€of€political€parties,Ð (T  Ðcompensation€for€miscarriages€of€justice€and€the€problems€of€the€travellingÐ ï  Ðcommunity.€€With€regard€to€the€latter,€the€special€measures€adopted€by€theÐ ¶â  ÐGovernment,€including€the€establishment€of€a€task€force€and€the€preparation€ofÐ }©  Ðanti-discrimination€legislation,€augured€well€for€the€swift€resolution€of€thatÐ Dp  Ðcommunity's€current€problems.€Ð  7  ÐÌ99.à b àAs€to€discrimination€issues€in€general,€he€welcomed€the€establishment€ofÐ ™Å Ðthe€Department€of€Equality€and€Law€Reform€and€other€recent€developments€with€aÐ `Œ Ðview€to€eliminating€existing€discrimination.€€None€the€less,€the€improvementÐ 'S Ðof€the€relevant€legislation€currently€under€review€as€well€as€theÐ î Ðimplementation€of€a€programme€on€the€basis€of€recommendations€issued€by€theÐ µá ÐSecond€Commission€on€the€Status€of€Women€were€essential.Ð |¨ ÐÌ100.à b àHe€was€also€encouraged€by€the€fact€that€Ireland€had€pointed€to€the€needÐ  6 Ðto€review€current€policy€and€legislation€on€prison€matters,€which€should€dealÐ Ñý Ðwith€the€availability€of€segregated€facilities€for€women€and€young€offenders.€Ð ˜Ä ÐThe€laws€in€force€regarding€the€treatment€of€the€mentally€ill€andÐ _‹ Ðnon-nationals,€especially€refugees,€should€also€be€looked€at€more€closely.Ð &R ÐÌ101.à b àThe€continuing€state€of€national€emergency€remained€a€cause€of€seriousÐ ´à  Ðconcern€and€was€not€consistent€with€the€provisions€of€article4€of€theÐ {§! ÐCovenant.€€While€recognizing€the€gravity€of€the€terrorist€attacks€in€theÐ Bn" Ðcountry,€he€failed€to€understand€how€such€actions€could€be€interpreted€as€aÐ  5# Ðpermanent€threat€to€the€life€of€the€nation.€€In€accordance€with€article€4,€aÐ Ð ü$ Ðpublic€emergency€should€be€declared€for€a€given€period€of€time€as€required,Ð —!Ã% Ðwhereas€the€State€of€emergency€in€force€since€1976€had€been€declared€òòsine€dieóó.€Ð ^"Š& ÐThe€Committee€took€the€view€that€the€time€had€come€for€Ireland€to€lift€theÐ %#Q' Ðnational€emergency€and€that€there€were€other€ways€to€protect€the€nation€fromÐ ì#( Ðterrorist€attacks.Ð ³$ß) ÐÌ102.à b àThe€ending€of€the€state€of€national€emergency€might€help€to€resolve€otherÐ A&m!+ Ðmajor€human€rights€problems€which€hindered€the€proper€application€of€theÐ '4", ÐCovenant€such€as€the€existence€of€a€Special€Criminal€Court€and€the€strict€lawsÐ Ï'û"- Ðon€censorship.€€For€instance,€with€the€abolition€of€the€Special€CriminalÐ –(Â#. ÐCourt,€the€principle€of€equality€before€the€courts€would€finally€prevail€inÐ ])‰$/ Ðthe€country.€€In€that€connection,€he€welcomed€the€recent€judgement€of€theÐ $*P%0 ÐSupremeCourt€which€had€narrowed€the€interpretation€of€section31€of€theÐ ë*&1 ÐBroadcasting€Act€of€1961€but€pointed€out€that€further€measures€would€beÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðrequired€to€ensure€the€effective€implementation€of€the€provisions€ofÐ y,¥'3 Ðarticle19€of€the€Covenant.Ð @-l(4 Ї103.à b àIn€conclusion,€he€said€that€in€spite€of€the€concerns€expressed,€he€sharedÐ Ô Ðthe€Attorney€General's€optimistic€assessment€that€the€civil€and€politicalÐ ›Ç Ðrights€enshrined€in€the€Covenant€were€adequately€protected€in€Ireland.€Ð bŽ ÐÌ104.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó,€after€expressing€appreciation€to€the€Irish€delegation€forÐ ð Ðits€report€and€replies€to€the€many€questions€raised€by€the€Committee,€saidÐ ·ã Ðthat€it€was€nevertheless€important€not€to€lose€sight€of€the€human€rightsÐ ~ ª Ðproblems€which€remained€to€be€resolved.€€The€Attorney€General€had€indicatedÐ E q Ðthat€the€Irish€Government€was€currently€reviewing€some€of€the€legislationÐ  8 Ðwhich€had€caused€the€Committee€concern€and€that€draft€bills€had€been€submittedÐ Ó ÿ  Ðto€the€Irish€Parliament€in€that€connection.€€The€Committee€would€welcome€newsÐ š Æ  Ðof€any€developments€in€that€area€as€and€when€they€occurred€and€if€possibleÐ a   Ðprior€to€the€publication€of€Ireland's€second€report.Ð (T  ÐÌ105.à b àThe€purpose€of€the€dialogue€with€States€parties€was€to€draw€on€theÐ ¶â  Ðexperience€of€Committee€members€to€pinpoint€specific€human€rights€problems€inÐ }©  Ðeach€country€and€seek€appropriate€solutions.€€While€the€significance€ofÐ Dp  Ðcontributions€from€NGOs€should€not€be€underestimated,€he€stressed€theÐ  7  Ðparticular€importance€of€sustaining€communication€with€States€parties€andÐ Òþ  Ðexpressed€confidence€that€the€delegation€of€Ireland€would€not€disappoint€theÐ ™Å ÐCommittee€in€that€respect.Ð `Œ ÐÌ106.à b àòòMr.€WHELEHANóó€(Ireland)€said€that€the€dialogue€established€with€theÐ î ÐCommittee€had€been€both€frank€and€extremely€comprehensive.€€He€was€confidentÐ µá Ðthat€when€the€Committee€had€had€sufficient€time€to€reflect€on€the€documentsÐ |¨ Ðsubmitted€and€the€replies€given€by€the€Irish€delegation€it€would€realize€thatÐ Co Ðthe€human€rights€situation€in€Ireland€was€somewhat€better€than€might€at€firstÐ  6 Ðappear.€€He€confirmed€the€delegation's€intention€to€give€serious€considerationÐ Ñý Ðto€the€Committee's€observations,€which€had€been€most€constructive€and€hadÐ ˜Ä Ðnever€assumed€an€accusatory€tone.€€The€Irish€delegation€had€participated€inÐ _‹ Ðthe€dialogue€in€the€spirit€outlined€by€the€Chairman.Ð &R ÐÌ107.à b àHis€only€regret€was€that,€perhaps€due€to€a€question€of€mistaken€emphasis,Ð ´à  Ðthe€Committee€had€not€so€far€seemed€to€fully€grasp€the€very€elaborate€schemeÐ {§! Ðof€judicial€supervision€of€both€the€legislation€and€police€authorities€backedÐ Bn" Ðup€by€the€non„judicial€complaints€system€in€Ireland.€€He€was€confident€thatÐ  5# Ðthe€reasons€for€the€state€of€national€emergency€and€the€scope€of€the€measuresÐ Ð ü$ Ðtaken€in€that€connection€would€become€more€apparent€following€due€reflectionÐ —!Ã% Ðby€the€Committee€on€Ireland's€overall€report.€€Ð ^"Š& ÐÌ108.à b àIn€conclusion,€he€said€he€looked€forward€to€receiving€the€Committee'sÐ ì#( Ðconsidered€assessment€of€his€country's€report.€€He€had€noted€that€theÐ ³$ß) ÐCommittee€was€generally€satisfied€with€the€existing€human€rights€situation€inÐ z%¦ * ÐIreland€and€in€particular€with€the€efforts€under€way€to€secure€furtherÐ A&m!+ Ðimprovements€in€that€area.Ð '4", ÐÌ109.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€suggested€that€the€due€date€for€Ireland's€second€periodicÐ –(Â#. Ðreport€should€be€7€March€1996.Ð ])‰$/ ÐÌÌà@éé&“àòòThe€meeting€rose€at€5.45€p.m.óóÔ €°¦Ô