Memorandum for Government by the Department of External Affairs
'The Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms'

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15. The Consultative Assembly attaches the highest importance to the early signature of this Convention and to its entry into force at the earliest possible date. The Convention would be the first concrete result of the work of the Council of Europe, and would increase the confidence of the peoples of Western Europe in the effectiveness of the Council and in its practical approach to the problems confronting the Western nations. The Convention is also generally regarded as a means of bringing home to the peoples of Eastern Europe the fundamental differences between the Western democracies and the régimes under which they themselves exist. Politically, signature of the Convention by Ireland is of prime importance even though the Convention may not satisfy our own aspirations. Any reluctance on the part of Ireland to sign this Convention would be capable of being misinterpreted - even though the Irish representatives have expressed concern at its shortcomings - and might be construed as a lack of interest in a problem which is very real to those peoples of Western Europe who have suffered under totalitarian régimes.

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