Vol. 549 No. 4
94 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will ratify the UN Convention against the taking of hostages of 1979; the specific steps taken towards ratification of the convention since 26 June 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7082/02]
Ireland is a party to five of the 12 universal conventions relating to terrorism. The Government attaches high priority to the bringing forward of legislation which would permit Ireland to become party to the outstanding seven conventions. On 18 December 2001, the Government approved the drafting of a Criminal Justice (United Nations Conventions) Bill, which if enacted would enable Ireland to become party to the following three UN Conventions; the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, 1973; the UN Convention against the Taking of Hostages, 1979; and the UN Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, 1997. On 16 January 2002, the Government approved the drafting of a Criminal Justice (Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism) Bill, which if enacted would enable Ireland to ratify the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.
95 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will ratify the UN convention against the recruitment of mercenaries of 1989; the specific steps taken towards ratification of the convention since 26 June 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7083/02]
The International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries entered into force on 20 October 2001. As of 25 February 2002, there were 22 states parties and 16 signatories to the convention. Only one EU member state, Italy, has ratified the convention, and only one other, Germany, has signed it.
While the terms of the convention have been examined by my Department, no specific steps have been taken towards ratification of the convention in the period mentioned by the Deputy. While Ireland's accession to this particular convention is not at present under active consideration, this is not to say that accession has been ruled out. It may be that at some stage in the future a decision would be taken to accede to the convention. The situation will be kept under review in the context of the ongoing assessment and prioritisation of Ireland's international commitments.
96 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will ratify the UN migrant workers convention of 1990; the specific steps taken towards ratification of the Convention since 26 June 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7084/02]
Ireland has not signed and is not a party to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The current international position is that there are 16 signatories and 19 states parties to the convention. It has not yet entered into force and remains open for signature. Ireland's position is being reviewed in light of prevailing circumstances and in the context of the ongoing assessment and prioritisation of Ireland's international commitments.
97 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will ratify the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and the Convention of Treaties between States and International Organisations; the specific steps taken towards ratification of the conventions since 26 June 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7085/02]
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties was adopted on 23 May 1969 and entered into force on 27 January 1980. The United Nations Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organisations was done at Vienna on 21 March 1986 but has not yet entered into force. While consideration has been given to Ireland ratifying both of these conventions, further examination of their terms and of the requirements for implementing their provisions into Irish domestic law would be necessary before this could be done, due to the complexity of both instruments. The decision on when to conduct such a detailed examination will be made in the context of the ongoing assessment and prioritisation of Ireland's international commitments.
