asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a communication has been received from the Religious Society of Friends expressing its concern that the Government should demonstrate publicly its declared concern for non-violent solutions to national and international problems by ratifying the following Conventions: (1) the UN International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, (2) the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and (3) the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and what action the Government proposes to take in the matter.

The communication referred to has been received. Ireland has signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and signature of the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights is under active consideration. Legislation will, however, be required before we can ratify either instrument.

As regards the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, legislation will also be required to enable us to accede to it.