Sir, - I should like to thank most warmly all the many people who responded to my appeal, in the columns of The Irish Times, for information about the infringement of basic human rights throughout the Republic of Ireland. The information I received was extremely interesting, but also deeply worrying.
It reflected the stark reality that there remains in the Republic considerable misunderstanding about the full extent of the Irish Governments obligations under the Good Friday Agreement. As the third anniversary of the signing of the agreement approaches, I am profoundly disappointed with the tardiness of the Irish Government in fulfilling those obligations.
This is most clearly demonstrated by its attitude and treatment of minorities within its jurisdiction. Despite the fact that the Agreement obliged the Irish Government to ratify "as quickly as possible" the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities, we are still waiting. . .and our patience is wearing thin. This convention would guarantee support for the religion, culture, language and traditions of all national minorities, including that of the substantial Ulster-Scots community living in the Republic of Ireland. Without ratification, I fear that the widespread discrimination against the Ulster-Scots community will inevitably continue.
In these circumstances, it is absolutely essential the Irish Government ensures that the new Irish Human Rights Commission has within its membership a representative of the Ulster-Scots community. - Yours, etc.,
The Lord Laird Of Artigarvan, House of Lords, London SW1.