Govt urged to sign new human rights agreement

Twenty-five Irish NGOs have joined forces to call on the Taoiseach to sign a new international human rights agreement at UN headquarters in New York this week.

The move follows a statement last week by Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin that the Government "does not expect to be in a position to sign".

Amnesty Ireland, the Teachers Union of Ireland and Trócaire are among the groups calling for the State to agree to the new treaty.

A number of other EU nations are planning to do so, but several other countries, including Britain and the US, have not given their support.