Ireland delegation to UN committee apologises ‘for serious wrongs in the past’

The Government of Ireland is not proud of “the serious wrongs” made in its past, minister of state David Stanton said following an examination by a UN expert committee on torture.

Mr Stanton led a delegation to Geneva as Ireland was scrutinised for its compliance with the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), which it ratified in 2002.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Stanton said: “A lot of the questions asked refer to chapters in our past. These are legacy, historical issues of which we are not proud. We recognise and apologise for the serious wrongs that were made in the past and where we can, we will try to remedy these wrongs. Ireland is now an open, modern and progressive society. We are anxious to get things right in our country. Our international reputation is also very important to us.”

He welcomed the committee’s acknowledgement of Ireland’s progress on prison overcrowding, prison conditions, slopping out, and plans to involve the Ombudsman in the prisoner complaints process.

Mr Stanton said: “I welcome the opportunity to engage with the Committee which I see as a critical friend whose advice and direction we greatly value. It is crucial for us not to be complacent.

“We are here to listen and to learn from the Committee and from civil society, to make improvements and to progress. Human rights are at the forefront of our foreign policy and it is important to us that we are engaged in a positive way nationally and international.”