John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I have no intention of playing some sort of get out of jail free card.

First, I cannot ratify it until I bring in the essential element, that is, the mental capacity Bill, which will be published this session. I am not able to say when, but I ask Senator Healy Eames to believe that if we are stating consistently all along that we cannot ratify until we have the mental capacity Bill, to my mind that clearly leads the way for us then to ratify the UN convention, although I accept it is not enough for Senator Healy Eames or the House. Many Ministers have said that we cannot ratify until we have published the mental capacity Bill. I ask Senator Healy Eames to understand that such would be the Government's intention for early next year.