asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he considers it appropriate that Ireland should be pressing its candidacy for a seat on the Security Council while we still remain one of the minority countries in the United Nations which has to date failed to sign the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1965.
Written Answers. - Security Council.
49.
With the permission of the Ceann Chomairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.
Ireland signed the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Radical Discrimination on 21 March 1968. It is the intention of the Government to ratify the Convention.
Discussions as to the steps, including domestic legislation, that would be necessary to give effect to obligations under the convention are continuing between the Departments concerned.
I agree that it is desirable that we should ratify the convention but there is no direct connection between the convention and our candidature for the Security Council and I do not consider that we would have postponed seeking election to the Security Council on this account.