Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Independents 4 Change are fully supportive of the Bill. On Leaders' Questions a couple of years ago, I asked when we would to ratify the Istanbul Convention. I am glad that its ratification has come a step closer. Possibly because I am unfamiliar with being in government, I do not understand why it takes so long for such matters to be progressed. In one way, today is a good day. It is welcome that ratification is a step closer but it is disappointing that it is taking so long to get there, particularly given that the convention opened for signature in May 2011 at the Council of Europe.

A couple of Members referred to the potential impact on the Bill of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. My understanding is that as this is a convention of the Council of Europe rather than of the European Union, Brexit will have no impact on it. I ask the Minister of State to address that point. In the context of the wider European debate in Ireland, it is conveniently forgotten by many political commentators who praise the European Union for initiatives that impact on Ireland that it is the Council of Europe that brings through many of those initiatives and our membership of the EU has nothing to do with them. That is the case with the convention. It is very interesting how the political establishment uses that ignorance. This debate is a perfect example of that because Deputies Sherlock and O'Callaghan-----

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