Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is envisaged that Ireland will ratify the international convention for migrant workers and their families in the near future. [28467/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As stated in my reply on the last occasion this matter was raised with me in May of this year, Ireland is not a signatory to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1990, and it entered into force on 1 July 2003, following ratification by the requisite number of states, 20. The convention has been open for signature and ratification since December 1990. However, to date only 33 states have ratified it. No European Union member state has as yet signed or ratified the convention, nor has any indicated an intention to do so.

The convention on the rights of migrant workers has been examined by my Department. It would appear that in order for Ireland to ratify the convention, significant changes would have to be made across a wide range of existing legislation, including legislation addressing employment, social welfare provision, education, taxation and electoral law. These changes would also have implications for our EU commitments. The operation of the common travel area between Ireland and the UK might also possibly be affected. There are, therefore, no plans to sign the convention.

It should also be noted that the rights of migrant workers and their families are already protected under existing national legislation and under the Irish Constitution, as well as under EU law. In addition, the rights of migrant workers and their families are also addressed by Ireland's commitments under international human rights instruments to which the State is already a party. These international instruments include, for example, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.