Ireland’s Human Rights laws will come under the spotlight at a United Nations conference today.

The Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald will outline what the Government has done to improve human rights here.

Frances Fitzgerald will face her first test as Tánaiste today as she will be asked to defend Ireland’s human rights record at the UN in Geneva later.

Minister Fitzgerald, who is also Minister for Justice, will come in for criticism over our abortion laws, which have been described by the Netherlands as “restrictive”.

Mark Kelly of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has said a number of countries want to hear about the new Government’s plans on the issue: “We’ve already seen advanced written questions from nine countries and six of them have zeroed in on the abortion issue.

“For example, Germany has asked if the eighth amendment to the constitution is going to be changed.

“And Sweden has asked what measures Ireland is prepared to take to bring legislation and medical practice at least in line with minimum International standards.”

Mark Kelly has said Ireland’s human rights record still has room for improvement: “I think we would have to give a red card on women’s rights still in this country and in particular on the abortion issue, we continue to export abortion effectively to the UK.

“Comparatively speaking Ireland does quite well, but there are still some significant gaps.”