Jimmy Deenihan
Question:42 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government intend to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in the near future.
Written Answers. - UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:56 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Child Care Bill, which is at present before Dáil Éireann, will allow the Government to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Peter Barry
Question:65 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Government propose to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 56 and 65 together.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed by Ireland on 29 September 1990. The Child Care Bill at present before the House covers only a part of the issues with which the convention is concerned. Its passing could not therefore, in itself, allow the Government to ratify the convention. A detailed examination of the terms of the convention and of relevant domestic legislation is now under way to determine what legislative measures, if any, might be necessary to enable Ireland ratify the convention.
The preparation of any necessary legislative measures to allow for ratification of the convention is not a matter for my Department.