I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 72 together.
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, 114 states have signed the Statute and, of these, 21 have ratified it.
An amendment to the Constitution is required to permit the State to ratify the Statute and, in this regard, I have asked the chairman of the Government legislation committee to arrange for the draft Bill containing a proposal for such an amendment to be given priority in the Government's legislation programme.