Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 81: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of states that have become signatories to the charter of the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13518/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A total of 139 states have signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. To date, 98 states have become party to the statute.

Together with our partners in the European Union, Ireland has been a consistent and strong supporter of the ICC, recognising it as an essential means of combating impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. This position has been recognised in the EU common position of 2001, amended in 2002 and comprehensively updated in June 2003.

The 2003 common position commits the Union and its member states to support the effective functioning of the court and to advance universal support for it by promoting the widest possible participation in the Rome Statute. In February 2004, a detailed action plan on the implementation of the 2003 common position was adopted under the auspices of the Irish Presidency of the European Union. During its EU Presidency, Ireland took an active role in implementing the action plan, including raising it in EU political dialogue with third countries, by making démarches encouraging support for the court in various capitals and in liaising with the court itself.

In addition, the EU and its member states have been generous supporters of initiatives to promote the court in third states, as well as to strengthen the capacity of states to co-operate with the court. In this context, during its EU Presidency, Ireland organised an ICC event for representatives of small island developing states in New York and co-sponsored an international conference on human rights and the ICC in Sana'a, Yemen. Ireland also provided funds towards a conference entitled "The ICC and the Arab World" which took place in Jordan in February 2005 and it is intended to provide funding to other such initiatives in support of the court in the course of this year. I assure Deputies of Ireland's continued interest in and support for the court as an essential means of combating impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.