Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 2

Written Answers. - International Criminal Court.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

98 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Government will ratify the Rome Statute to set up a permanent international criminal court to try war crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7332/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Statute of the International Criminal Court was concluded at Rome on 17 July 1998 and was signed, subject to ratification, by Ireland on 7 October 1998. It will enter into force approximately two months after 60 states have become party to it. My information is that to date 94 states have signed the statute and, of these, seven have ratified it.

The establishment of a permanent international criminal court has been supported by Ireland for many years. Accordingly, considerable resources were made available to ensure that Ireland was represented at and participated in the negotiations which led to the conclusion of the statute. Ireland continues to be represented at the preparatory commission set up after the Rome conference to deal with matters necessary for the effective operation of the court when the statute enters into force.

Ireland was anxious to sign the statute at an early date to signal our strong political support for the court, as were our EU partners and our partners in the 66 member like-minded group, which was set up to advance the conclusion of the statute and its timely entry into force.

With regard to the ratification process, the statute is a long and complex document which includes 13 parts and 128 articles. A careful and detailed examination of the Statute by the Department of Foreign Affairs, together with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Office of the Attorney General and other appropriate bodies, is necessary to determine the precise nature and scope of the legal and administrative measures which may need to be adopted in order for Ireland to be in a position to meet its obligations under the statute.

At the international level, this matter is also being discussed by delegations at the preparatory commission with the aim of ensuring that the necessary domestic measures are taken by states not only in a timely fashion, but also in a comprehensive and consistent manner.

Ireland may proceed to ratify the statute only when all the necessary legal and administrative measures have been put in place. I am not in a position at this point to state definitively how long this process might take, but I assure the Deputy that the timely ratification and entry into force of the statute will continue to be given a high priority by my Department.