Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 1

Written Answers. - International Court of Justice.

Dick Spring

Question:

35 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the State will make a declaration under Article 36(2) of the statute of the International Court of Justice; the current progress, if any, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22389/97]

Ireland, with all the other members of the United Nations, is a party to the statute of the International Court of Justice. Bearing in mind the important role which the court can play in resolving international disputes and Ireland's commitment under Article 29.2 of the Constitution to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, the question arises whether Ireland should make a declaration under Article 36 (2) of the statute of the court, accepting the court's compulsory jurisdiction.

In view of what it understands to be the possible legal implications of making such a declaration, the Government remains to be convinced that it would be appropriate to do so. It should be borne in mind, in any case, that the absence of such a declaration does not preclude all parties to a particular dispute from agreeing to submit the dispute to the court.

It should also be borne in mind that the acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice may not necessarily be preferable to retaining the option of having recourse to other fora or methods of dispute settlement.

Top
Share