International Agreements

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 February 2013

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Questions (73, 74)

Seán Crowe

Question:

73. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 20 February 2013, in relation to outstanding ratification of international agreements, the Department that is leading on identifying the legislative or administrative measures necessary for the State to ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10757/13]

Seán Crowe

Question:

74. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 20 February 2013, in relation to outstanding ratification of international agreements, his views on the legislative or administrative measures identified by his Department as necessary for the State to ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10758/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the lead Department on the signature and ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Government decided to proceed with Ireland’s signature of the Optional Protocol in February 2012 and this took place on 23 March 2012. Ratification of the Optional Protocol is a separate step, which will be preceded by a thorough screening of the obligations to be assumed. This will require extensive consultation with all Departments involved and consideration by the Government in due course. On 5 February 2013, Uruguay became the tenth country to ratify the Optional Protocol and, as a result, it will enter into force on 5 May 2013, three months after the deposit with the United Nations Secretary General of Uruguay’s instrument of ratification.