Vol. 430 No. 3
97 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland has neither ratified nor acceded to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, that is, the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents; whether any other member state of the EC is in a similar situation; whether it is proposed to take steps to bring Ireland's position into line with our EC partners; and, if so, when.
The implementation of the provisions of this Convention does not come within the responsibility of my Department. Once any changes which may be necessary in legislation or in the rules of Court have been made, and the Department having substantive responsibility for the issue so requests, consideration can be given to the question of Ireland becoming a party to that Convention.
I note that in reply to a similar question from the Deputy in 1990, the Minister for Justice, who then had responsibility for this issue stated that the matter was due to be considered by the Law Reform Commission. The Commission has yet to furnish its report.
Of the Twelve Denmark is the only other State which has neither signed nor ratified the Convention.
