Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

We would all be delighted if it could be in force by 3 December, but that date is merely the opening date for countries who are signatories to the convention to ratify it. There is a distinction between signing it and ratifying it. Ratification can take place only when a country has the authority under its own constitutional and governance systems to effect ratification.

Ratification will commence on 3 December and Ireland will be one of the very first countries to ratify.