Vol. 501 No. 3
148 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to a declaration under Article 36(2) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice; the steps, if any, taken in this regard since 26 June 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5896/99]
Ireland, along with the other member states 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 bearing in mind also 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.
The Government is favourably disposed towards accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the court now that a method has been found for regulating and resolving the sovereignty dispute over Northern Ireland. The modalities of making the necessary declaration are being reviewed. It should be borne in mind, in any case, that the absence of such a declaration does not preclude disputes from being submitted to the court in appropriate cases, arising out of either a specific agreement between the parties or pursuant to treaty obligations. It should also be borne in mind that other forms of dispute settlement may be more suitable in certain cases.
