Vol. 395 No. 9
264 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education when the Council of Europe Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events was opened for signature; when Ireland signed it; its implications for Irish law and practice; the reason legislation to ratify it has not yet been introduced; when it will be introduced; and the countries which have already ratified it.
The Council of Europe Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events was opened for signature in August 1985 and has been ratified by the countries set out on the attached list. Ireland signed the Convention on 3 November 1986 and procedures for ratification of the Convention are in train. The legal implications, if any, are also under consideration.
Council of Europe Convention on Spectator Violence.
The following countries have (i) signed; and (ii) signed and ratified the Convention.
(i) Signed: Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands and Turkey.
(ii) Signed and Ratified: Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Finland.
265 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education the reason Ireland has not yet signed the Council of Europe Convention on Anti-Doping; when the Convention was opened for signature; if she proposes to introduce legislation to ratify this Convention; the advantages of this Convention for Ireland and Europe; the countries which have ratified it; and if she will make a statement on any reservations Ireland has about the Convention from a cost or other point of view.
The Anti-Doping Convention which has been adopted by the Council of Europe was opened for signature on 16 November 1989, and has, I understand, been signed by the 17 countries set out in the attached list.
The Convention is of recent origin and procedures for signing and ratification by Ireland are in train.
