Vol. 501 No. 3
292 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when Ireland will ratify the UN Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriage of 1962; the steps, if any, taken towards ratification of the convention since 26 June 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5883/99]
As the Deputy is aware signature/ratification by Ireland of an international agreement is a matter for decision by Government. The 1962 UN convention, the subject matter of this question, has not been the subject of a Government decision to date.
As the Deputy will also be aware, responsibility for updating of the legislation in relation to the registration of births, dealth and marriages was assigned to my Department in July 1997.
This review of the legislation is ongoing and there are a number of other issues such as the computerisation of the General Register Office data and the re-organisation of the General Register Office itself which are being addressed in tandem with this review.
Since then, the matter of signature/ratification of the UN convention of the 1962 has been brought to the attention of my Department by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
I can assure the Deputy that as part of the review of the legislation relating to registration of marriages in Ireland the question of seeking Government approval for the State to accede to the UN convention of 1962 on consent to marriage, minimum age for marriage and registration of marriage will be examined by my Department.
