Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In some countries, once they sign the agreement, it automatically comes into force in domestic law. Our Constitution is different. It states that the signing of an international agreement can only have effect once a decision is made in the Oireachtas to ratify it and give it effect. Often legislation is required for the ratification process. Sometimes a Minister will await the next available opportunity. If there is legislation that embraces the subject matter of the international agreement, the opportunity will be taken to ratify it at that stage. In some cases it requires the putting in place of administrative or legislative arrangements to give effect to it, and that can take time. In terms of pursuing individual agreements, it is better to do that with the line Departments and Ministers.

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