The death penalty is a "cruel and inhuman punishment" and Ireland is pushing for its abolition worldwide, Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt said today.
Addressing the World Congress against the Death Penalty in Paris, Mr Kitt said abolishing the death penalty "enhances human dignity and is a key element in the promotion of human rights throughout the world.
"Ireland condemns the death penalty and abhors its use in all cases. We regard it as a cruel and inhuman punishment and a violation of the most basic human right, that is, the right to life. We strongly support efforts towards universal abolition," he told the conference.
Today is the final day of the Congress. It is the third such event, following previous events in Strasbourg, France in 2001 and in Montreal, Canada in 2004. It brings together those advocating the abolition of the death penalty from around the world and promotes the idea of world wide abolition.
The discussions at this year's Congress focused the prospects of abolition in North Africa and the Middle East. Minister of State Kitt is leading the Irish delegation to the event.
In 2001, the Irish electorate voted in a referendum to fully and formally abolish the use of the death penalty. The vote gave legal force to a moratorium which had existed in Ireland for almost 50 years.
"We are proud of the fact that our ban on the death penalty received the strong support of the public. This is a clear indication of the Irish people's abhorrence of the death penalty," Mr Kitt added.
"I am proud to be at this ceremony today to add Ireland's voice to all the others by not only solemnly condemning the death penalty as a violation of our most basic and inalienable rights, but also committing Ireland to continued efforts to move towards universal abolition."
