Jack Wall
Question:165 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Government will ratify the agreement establishing the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22033/01]
Written Answers. - International Criminal Court.
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, 139 states have signed the statute and, of these, 37 have ratified it.
Following the successful outcome of the constitutional referendum on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court it will be necessary for my Department to bring forward implementing legislation to give effect to the terms of the Rome Statute in Irish law. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is a very complex instrument that requires detailed consideration to establish exactly what will be required by way of amending legislation to enable us to ratify the statute. The legislation required to give effect in Irish law to the statute will be very substantial considering the complex issues that arise to be dealt with. By way of illustration, for example, the New Zealand Act giving effect to the statute consists of 187 sections and one schedule while the UK legislation consists of 84 sections and ten schedules.
A careful and detailed examination of the statute is taking place in my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General's office, to determine the precise nature and scope of the legal and administrative measures which may need to be taken so that we will be in a position to meet our obligations under the statute. I am happy to inform the House that substantial progress is being made in this regard.
At an international level, the Rome Statute is being discussed in a number of fora, for example, the Council of Europe, 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 and we are taking an active part in those discussions. The legislative changes needed to give effect to the statute in Irish law, following completion of this examination, will be brought forward as soon as possible. I assure the Deputy that the legislation will be introduced as quickly as possible having regard to other high priority legislative requirements.