Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will indicate such UN conventions and protocols that Ireland proposes to sign or ratify before in 2010 or in the coming years. [20952/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there are a large number of international agreements within the UN framework, covering a very wide range of subjects and falling within the functional responsibility of a number of Departments. The following is the present position insofar as it relates to Treaties on which my Department has lead responsibility.

Two international agreements within the UN framework for which my Department holds lead responsibility have been signed, but not yet ratified, by Ireland. These agreements are: 1. The Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes, signed 18 April 1961; 2. The Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes, signed 24 April 1963.

Ratification of these agreements is linked to the wider question of the making of a declaration by Ireland accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. The full implications of making such a declaration, and the question of what, if any, conditions or reservations should attach to it, are complex matters which require careful study, including with the Attorney General.

In addition to the above international agreements, inter-Departmental consultations on consideration of possible signature and ratification by Ireland of the Optional Protocol on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are ongoing, with the Department of Foreign Affairs playing a lead co-ordination role. My Department intends to convene a further inter-Departmental meeting on this subject in the near future.