Silence, secrecy and the US treaty

ON the face of it, the bald requirement in the US-Ireland treaty to answer questions against one’s will conflicts with the right to silence.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell argued (Irish Examiner, July 25) that, by law, this provision can only be implemented if it conforms with the Irish constitution.

It is telling that the minister is unable to defend this provision of the treaty on its merits. Moreover, the fact that unconstitutional provisions agreed internationally cannot then be implemented domestically hardly excuses their introduction in the first instance.