The position is that two agreements which have been signed are awaiting ratification and the question of signing two others is at present under consideration. Details are as follows. The International Cocoa Agreement 1993 was opened for signature at New York on 16 August 1993. Ireland signed the agreement, subject to ratification, on 16 February 1994. The international organisation responsible for the agreement is the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. It is proposed that Ireland will ratify the agreement when all EU member states are also in a position to do so.
The International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of 2 December 1961 as revised at Geneva on 10 November 1972 and 23 October 1978 was ratified by the Government in May 1981. The convention was again revised at Geneva in March 1991. That revised version was signed on behalf of Ireland, subject to ratification, on 27 February, 1992. The international organisation responsible for the agreement is the International Union for the Protection of new Varieties of Plants. The domestic legislation to facilitate ratification — the Plant Varieties (Proprietary Rights) (Amendment) Bill — is currently before the Dáil.
The European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals which was opened for signature in Strasbourg on 13 November 1987, was negotiated through the Council of Europe and has not yet been signed or ratified by Ireland. The convention has been under examination to determine its full implications and a decision on its signature and ratification will be made in due course.
