A/HRC/19/9 48. Support was being provided to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to a wide range of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on human rights issues, and to national human rights institutions in a number of developing countries. 49. Ireland believed that without a strong culture of human rights and good governance, long-term sustainable development was not possible. 50. Ireland was committed to expeditious implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgement in the A, B and C v Ireland case and an expert group would be appointed in November, drawing on appropriate medical and legal expertise, with a view to making recommendations to Government on how this matter should be best addressed. 51. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe had noted the action plan submitted by the Government and would discuss the matter in March 2012. 52. On citizenship matters, the Minister of Justice and Equality had introduced the new modification in the process to reduce the length of time and the new formal arrangements. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 53. During the interactive dialogue, 49 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 54. Sri Lanka took particular note of the legislative action taken by Ireland to safeguard employment rights, and health and safety standards in the workplace, and to prohibit discrimination based on gender, race, disability and religious belief. It commended Ireland for the provision of free pre-school, primary and post-primary education for the majority of students. It requested it to undertake adequate safeguards to ensure that responses to financial and economic crises do not lead to a situation which will give rise to racism, xenophobia and related intolerance against foreigners, immigrants and persons belonging to minorities. Sri Lanka made recommendations. 55. Cambodia welcomed the step taken by the Government of Ireland to approve the preparation of legislation to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and appreciated Ireland’s commitment by extending a standing invitation to all United Nations human rights special procedures. Cambodia was encouraged by the commitment of Ireland to implement policies, programmes and legislation that aim at promoting and protecting its citizens’ rights, including its commitment to review the law on domestic violence. Cambodia made recommendations. 56. Algeria commended Ireland for ratifying most of the international human rights instruments and on its efforts in combating domestic violence by developing a framework to prevent and respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Algeria expressed concern at the overlapping of several human rights bodies dealing with complaints, monitoring and inspection such as those referred to in Section III (B) of the national report and inquired about the coordination between these various bodies. Algeria made recommendations. 57. France recalled that Ireland had not yet ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and inquired about the obstacles to this ratification. France noted that women continue to be underrepresented in public and political life, and inquired about the legislative measures Ireland intended to take in this regard. France also inquired about Ireland’s intention to implement the European Court of Human Rights decision A, B and C vs. Ireland relating to abortion. France made recommendations. 58. Canada commended the focus of Ireland on implementing the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and 7