Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers has not been ratified and will not be ratified in the near future, as reported in the ECRI Second Report on Ireland; when the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families will be ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19376/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers was opened for signature on 24 November 1977. The Convention is concerned with the legal situation of migrant workers, in particular employment, residence and work permits, family reunifications, working conditions and the transfer of savings, social security and medical assistance. Ireland has not signed the Convention and there are no current plans to do so. The Council of Europe website shows only 6 current members of the EU as having ratified the Convention and none of these ratifications have taken place in the past 10 years. It is some years since this matter was last examined by the relevant Government Departments but there is no indication at this point of any pressing need for Ireland to change its previous position or that national measures in this area are inadequate.

In relation to the International Convention, I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 4 April, 2007. The position remains unchanged.