Vol. 486 No. 1
534 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposed international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department which are currently being negotiated or prepared; in each case the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement is being negotiated; whether it is proposed to ratify or accede to the agreement if adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1023/98]
535 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department which have been signed but not ratified or acceded to by the State; the date and place it was opened for signature in each case; the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement was negotiated; whether it is proposed to ratify or accede to the agreement; if so, when this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1038/98]
536 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department to which his attention has been drawn and which have not been signed by the State; the date and place it was opened for signature in each case; the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement was negotiated; whether it is proposed to sign the agreement; if so, when this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1053/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 534, 535 and 536 together.
There are no international multilateral agreements under the auspices of my Department currently being negotiated or prepared.
In regard to international agreements signed by the State but not ratified, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption was signed by Ireland on 19 June 1996. Before the convention can be ratified in Ireland, it will be necessary to give it the force of law in the State. This will involve making changes to the adoption Acts which contain the current procedures for the regulation of foreign adoptions.
My Department signed a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia for temporary visitors in September 1997 which will come into force in 1998.
