Rights of the Child

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023

Tuesday, 7 November 2023

Questions (837, 838, 839)

Joan Collins

Question:

837. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 143, 144 and 145 of 5 July 2023, where she replied that "the criminal law (sexual offences and human trafficking) Bill 2023, which will be published this month, will remove the final obstacles to ratification of the protocol", and that, if enacted, the State should be in a position to ratify the second optional protocol to the UNCRC on the Sale of and Child Pornography; and if she will explain the discrepancies in the above statements. [48257/23]

Joan Collins

Question:

838. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice to clarify if Ireland will be able to ratify the 2nd optional protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography once the Criminal Law (sexual offences and human trafficking) Bill 2023 is enacted. [48259/23]

Joan Collins

Question:

839. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No.167 of 5 July 2023, if she will clarify what she meant by certain outstanding aspects of the protocol (details supplied). [48260/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 837 to 839, inclusive, together.

The Government is firmly committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023, which I published in July, will remove the final obstacles to ratification of the Protocol. The Bill will deal with the issues relating to extra-territorial jurisdiction and amend the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 by the insertion of the Second Optional Protocol to the list of international agreements to which the Act of 2008 applies to ensure that Ireland is compliant with the requirements of the Protocol.

Once enacted, the State will be in a position to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.