Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Tánaiste's comments. Will the Tánaiste give a sense of the timeframe within which we will have a positive outcome? As the Tánaiste has pointed out, some 35 countries have signed up to it, including nine of our European partners. This is a principal international treaty or protocol and it means we can have a moral high ground especially in terms of Third World countries, including some of the countries struggling at present for democratic rights. Ireland and Europe should lead by example on these matters and it is important that we do so immediately. We must consider the issues of the rights of persons with disabilities as well and there is also a convention related to issues of the rights of all migrant workers to be signed in Ireland. What is the position on these?

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