David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Given the fact that the convention was signed in March 2007 and came into force in May 2008, will the Minister of State outline to the House what is required, apart from the mental capacity Bill, or send a note to that effect? What is the position on the optional protocol attached to the convention? Some 80 countries have signed it and 26 have ratified it, but we have not signed it. What are the obstacles to our signing?

Now or by way of note, will the Minister of State outline what other departmental changes must be made to allow the convention to go ahead? Does the Minister of State agree that we should view the convention as a human rights issue as opposed to a legal one?

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