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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture :

Publication of the follow-up report of the Irish Government concerning the 1998 visit

STRASBOURG, 18.05.2000 - The Irish Government has decided to make public its follow-up report in response to the report drawn up by the COUNCIL OF EUROPE’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) after its visit to Ireland in 1998. This follow-up report forms part of the ongoing dialogue established between the CPT and the Irish authorities.

The CPT's report on its 1998 visit and the interim report of the Irish Government were published in December 1999.

The CPT was set up under the 1987 European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 40 of the 41 member States of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The remaining State - Georgia - signed the Convention on 16 February 2000.

The CPT is composed of persons from a variety of backgrounds: lawyers, doctors, prison experts, persons with parliamentary experience, etc. The Committee’s task is to examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. For this purpose, it is entitled to visit any place where such persons are held by a public authority. It may formulate recommendations to strengthen, if necessary, their protection against torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The CPT organises periodic visits as well as other visits which appear to it be required in the circumstances.

The Irish Government's follow-up report (14 pages) may be obtained from:

• the CPT’s Internet Site: www.cpt.coe.int

• the Council of Europe Press Department:
  Sabine ZIMMER/Cathie BURTON tél. +33/(0)3 88 41 25 97/28 93 ; fax +33/(0)3 88 41 27 90 ; e-mail pressunit@coe.int

• the CPT’s Secretariat:
  tel. +33/(0)3.88.41.23.88; fax: +33/(0)3.88.41.27.72; e-mail cptdoc@coe.int

• Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform:
  tel. + 353/1.602.85.05 or + 353/1.602.83.88 ; fax: + 353/1.602.84.70 ; Internet Site: www.irlgov.ie/justice