This Convention was ratified by Ireland on 15 November 1988, without reservation and its provisions entered into force on 16 December 1988. Following is the text of a Press Release in the matter which was issued on 16 November 1988.
The Minister for Justice, Mr. Gerard Collins, T.D., wishes to announce that Ireland has become a party to the European Agreement on the Transmission of Applications for Legal Aid. The appropriate instrument of ratification was lodged with the Council of Europe in Strasbourg yesterday afternoon. The provisions of the Agreement will come into force for Ireland in 1 month's time.
The object of the Agreement is to provide procedural machinery to enable residents of Contracting States of the Council of Europe who wish to apply for legal aid in civil, commercial or administrative matters in another Contracting State, to do so via a transmitting authority in the State in which they are resident. The Legal Aid Board, 47 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2 is the designated transmitting authority for Ireland.
The European Agreement on Transmission of Applications for Legal Aid will facilitate people in Ireland who wish to pursue their entitlements to legal aid in other countries that are parties to the Agreement. The other countries where the Agreement is in force are, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Finland and the United Kingdom.