Vol. 470 No. 7
60 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will ratify the Convention on the Safety of the UN and Associated Personnel; and whether this convention will be ratified into law within the lifetime of this Government. [20093/96]
63 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, which has been made regarding Irish ratification of the Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel. [20018/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 63 together. Ireland intends to accede to the Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel as soon as the process of enacting the necessary domestic legislative measures to give effect to the provisions of the convention has been completed. I place great importance on progressing this issue as quickly as possible. In this regard, officials in my Department have been in contact with the Department of Justice with the aim of expediting this process.
The Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel represents an important milestone in efforts to increase the safety and security of both military and civilian personnel serving on UN peacekeeping operations. Specifically, the convention makes it a crime to attack, kidnap or murder UN and associated personnel or to attempt to do so, punishable by penalties appropriate to the grave nature of such crimes. Ireland, as a country with a long and distinguished tradition of service on UN peacekeeping missions, was very active in promoting agreement among member states of the UN on the adoption of this international instrument. In particular, Ireland co-sponsored UN General Assembly Resolution 49/59 which adopted the convention.
