Vol. 486 No. 1
781 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Conventions on Legalisation of Documents will be ratified; the nature of communications with the Superior Courts Rules Committee in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1781/98]
There are three conventions concerning legalisation of documents, they are:— the Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, dated 1961, the European Convention on the abolition of legalisation of documents executed by diplomatic or consular officers, dated 1968 and the convention abolishing the legalisation of documents in the member states of the European Communities, dated 1987. The various administrative and other changes necessary to enable the State to give effect to the conventions relating to the legalisation of documents are still the subject of consideration. In this regard, I have been in touch with the Superior Courts Rules Committee, concerning the making of Rules of Court, as appropriate. When all these changes are ready to be put in place, I will arrange to have the conventions ratified as quickly as possible.
782 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Council of Europe 1996 Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights will be ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1783/98]
I propose to initiate arrangements for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights as soon as the Children Act, 1997 is fully operational. Those arrangements in due course will be made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs subject to the approval of the Government. I previously indicated to the House in the course of debate on the Bill which led to the Children Act that there were provisions in it which would facilitate ratification of the convention. Those provisions are at present the subject of necessary consultation with relevant Departments with a view to implementation as soon as possible.
