I propose to take Priority Question No. 6 and Question No. 63 together.
A Bill to enable Ireland to ratify the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is at a very advanced stage of preparation in my Department and will be introduced as soon as possible. The proposed Bill takes into account the recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission in their report on the Convention. The Bill will also enable Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning custody of children and on restoration of custody of children.
As regards the information sought in the Priority Question about states which have signed or ratified the Hague Convention, the position is that 14 states are party to the Convention, namely, Australia, Austria, Belize, Canada, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Five states have signed but not yet ratified the Convention — these are Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.