asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government have signed the UNESCO convention for the protection of world culture and natural heritage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UNESCO Convention.
84.
The Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the text of which was adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 16th November, 1972, was not open lo signature. States may become party to it by the deposit of an Instrument of Ratification or Acceptance.
The question of ratification by this country is under consideration in the Government Departments concerned.
Could the Minister indicate when we are likely to get a decision by the Government as to when this may be ratified?
The Convention was adopted quite recently and it is not possible at this stage to say when we may ratify it. It will require detailed study before any decision can be taken.
I can take it the Government would in general approve of this in principle, if not in detail?
Indeed, completely approve of it in principle but we have a rather rigid tradition of not ratifying until our own domestic law has come or is about to come in line with the Convention and that has made us rather slow to ratify. Other countries, perhaps, ratify without being so conscientious about it. It has been our tradition to go into it very carefully to make sure that, if we ratify, our law is or is about to become in complete conformity with the Convention.