Human Rights Unit coordinates contributions from the various Government Departments with competence in areas of policy corresponding to particular Articles of the different Covenants and Conventions.  The Departments are asked to assess if Ireland’s obligations under the treaty are being met, and report on the progress being made in furthering the objectives contained therein.  

These national reports are submitted to Treaty Monitoring Bodies.  The reports are published and interested NGOs are invited to submit their observations to the Treaty Monitoring Body.  A national delegation, usually headed by the relevant Minister, then appears before the Treaty Monitoring Body to discuss the content of the report and Ireland’s progress in furthering the objectives of the relevant covenant or convention.  Following this appearance, the Treaty Monitoring Body then publishes its concluding observations. 

Copies of written submissions provided by Ireland in connection with the appearance before the United Nations Human Rights Committee and a copy of the committee’s concluding observations can be downloaded from here also.

Consultation on Ireland’s third periodic report to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

On 1 December 2011 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be submitting its third periodic report to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights under Articles 16 and 17 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which Ireland is a State Party. 

Please click on the following Link to access a draft copy of the report. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently inviting written submissions as part of its consultation process on the report.  An overview of issues raised will be provided in part 4 of the final report.  

All written submissions should be sent to ICESCR2011@dfa.ie by close of business on Friday, 28 October 2011.

Any further queries should be directed to ICESCR2011@dfa.ie

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The United Nations Human Rights Committee considered Ireland’s third periodic report under the ICCPR, which was submitted in February 2007, at its meetings held in Geneva on 14/15 July 2008 and adopted concluding observations at its meetings held on 22/23 July 2008. Ireland’s delegation for the consideration of the report was headed by the Attorney General, Mr. Paul Gallagher S.C., and the Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Seán Aylward.

• Third Periodic Report (2007)
• List of Issues (CCPR/C/IRL/Q/3) to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the Third Periodic Report
• Written replies by Ireland concerning the List of Issues
• Supplementary additional information by Ireland concerning the List of Issues
• Concluding Observations of the UN Human Rights Committee on Ireland's Third Periodic Report

• Information provided by Ireland on the Human Rights Committee’s recommendations made in paragraphs 11, 15 and 22 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations in respect of the third periodic report submitted by Ireland under Article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Reference: CCPR/C/IRL/CO/3 of July 2008) (Word 87kb)  

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• First National Report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1997)
• Concluding Observations of the Economic and Social Council on Ireland's First National Report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1999)
• Second National Report under International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• List of issues concerning Second Report (2001)
• Reply to list of issues (2002)
• Concluding Observations for Second Report (2002)

International Convention on the Rights of the Child

• First National Report under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (1996)
• Concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Ireland's First National Report under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (1998)
• Second National Report under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (2005)
• Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Ireland's Second National Report under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (1998)
• First National Report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (2006)

International Convention on the elimination of Discrimination against Women

• Concluding Observations made under the International Convention on the elimination of Discrimination against Women
• Second and Third Periodic Reports under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports under the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (2005) 
• Concluding Observations on combined 4th and 5th Reports (2005)

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

• Combined First and Second National Reports under the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (2004)
• Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Ireland’s Combined First and Second National Reports under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (2005)
• Additional report by Ireland to assist in CERD

Council of Europe

Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) 
 - visits by the committee to Ireland

Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities:

Report under the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Second Opinion on Ireland (PDF 1465kb)

Comments of the Government of Ireland on the Second Opinion of the Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Ireland (PDF 278kb)

Committee of Ministers Resolution on the Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by Ireland. (PDF 125kb)

United Nations Treaty Body Database