asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland has signed The Hague Convention for the suppression of unlawful seizure of aircraft; if not, why; and if he will list the states which have so far signed the convention.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft.
12.
The question of Ireland's accession to the convention is under active consideration.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I will circulate with the Official Report a list of those countries who have signed, ratified or acceded to the convention, as notified to the Government to date.
Following is the list:
The Conventión on Acts of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft: list of Signatures, ratifications and accessions notified to the Government up to 27 April, 1972.
Signatures (*indicates ratification)
Afghanistan
Argentina
Barbados
Belgium
*Brazil
*Bulgaria
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
Khmer Republic
Canada
China
Colombia
*Costa Rica
Czechoslovak
Denmark
El Salvador
Ethiopia
France
*Gabon
Federal Republic of Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
*Hungary
Indonesia
*Iran
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
*Japan
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Netherlands
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Rwanda
South Africa
*Sweden
*Switzerland
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Ukrainian Soviet Republic
*Union of Soviet Socialists Republics
*United Kingdom
*USA
Venezuela
Yugoslavia
Austria
Australia
Chad
Chile
Dahomey
*Ecuador
Equatorial Guinea
Fiji
*Finland
India
Iraq
*Jordan
Kuwait
Laos
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
New Zealand
*Niger
*Norway
Pakistan
Paraguay
Romania
Senegal
Singapore
Spain
Accessions
Mali
Could the Minister tell the House whether the convention is now in force? Have the necessary ten nations subscribed to it to bring it into operation?
Seventy-five nations have signed and 19 nations have ratified.
Having regard to the large number which appear to regard it as satisfactory, could the Minister for Foreign Affairs give us an assurance that we will expedite our consideration of it and append Ireland's name to it without further delay?
The decision is to do so. Legislation is required. It is intended by the Department concerned to introduce legislation making it possible to accede to other conventions, such as the Tokyo Convention and the Montreal Convention as well.
What Department is concerned?
The Department of Transport and Power.