A/HRC/19/9 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its twelfth session from 3 to 14 October 2011. The review of Ireland was held at the 7th meeting on 6 October 2011. The delegation of Ireland was headed by Alan Shatter, Minister for Justice and Equality. At its 11th meeting held on 10 October 2011, the Working Group adopted the report on Ireland. 2. On 20 June 2011, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Ireland: Bangladesh, Italy and the Republic of Moldova. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Ireland: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/12/IRL/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/12/IRL/2 and Corr.1); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/12/IRL/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Ireland through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. Ireland indicated its fullest commitment to the UPR process and intention to pay fullest attention to the recommendations of the Human Rights Council. The valuable contribution of the Human Rights Commission to the compilation of the stakeholders’ submission was recognized, as was the role of consultation with civil society, including the Trade Union movement in Ireland, in preparation of the National Report. 6. A public forum for civil society organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs was held in December 2010. The Department of Justice followed up with a series of seven public meetings throughout Ireland. The Government welcomed the consultations held by various civil society actors and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the consultations held by the Irish Human Rights Commission. All of these initiatives have led to a very high level of public awareness of the UPR mechanism in Ireland. 7. The State party has set out the following commitments as part of the UPR process: a Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes against Children and Vulnerable Adults) Bill and a National Vetting Bureau Bill were presently being prepared and would be presented to Parliament as soon as possible and revised Children First guidelines would be placed on a statutory basis. Ireland will shortly be in a position to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Mental capacity legislation for ratification of the 3