Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights opened for signature in New York in September 2009. To date some 35 states have signed. A total of nine of the 27 EU member states have signed. Three states have ratified the optional protocol: Ecuador, Mongolia and Spain. The optional protocol will come into force three months after the deposit with the UN Secretary General of the tenth instrument of ratification or accession. My Department has led consultations between Departments on possible signature of the optional protocol, recently circulating an informal paper for the information of Departments and inviting their comments. A formal proposal asking Departments for their views as to possible signature of the optional protocol will be circulated to Departments shortly. Once that process is completed, the question of the possible ratification of the optional protocol will be examined.

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