John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I asked the Minister of State four questions. One was if he would do it now; obviously the answer to that is "No". In his reply the Minister of State said he would opt in when he was ready. He also stated that he would do so when he is "satisfied that certain things are in place". What are these certain things? He has not told us what they are. He has also said that it would be within two to three years. We will report by 19 April 2020. Will it be 21 April 2020 or will it be a year or more later? What things is he still awaiting to be in place?

Over 90 states ratified the optional protocol at the same time as they ratified the convention. At the start of his contribution, the Minister of State said he would not be lectured from other parties about what they committed to.Why does it bother him what other states have or have not done? There is no real reason that we cannot do this. I am pleading with the Minister of State. This can be ratified now. If somebody started a complaint today, it would be years before he or she could take it anywhere, and the State then gets six months when it brings it there. The Minister of State should give people a break and let people see he is on their side.