Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure; if she can give an indication as to when signature and ratification of the Convention will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17939/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The third Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was opened for signature by member states in February 2012.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989 and entered into force on 2 September 1990. The UNCRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty, enjoying almost universal ratification by nearly all Member States of the United Nations. Ireland ratified the UNCRC in 1992.

I have previously stated that it was my intention to sign the Third Optional Protocol on behalf of Ireland as soon as possible. My Department is currently finalising the State's combined 3rd and 4th Reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. When the report is finalised and submitted to the UN Committee, I will consult with other Government departments and seek the approval of the Government to the signing of the third Optional Protocol on behalf of Ireland. Ratification would generally take place some time after that, once the State is satisfied that the necessary legislative and administrative procedures are in place to enable full compliance. This matter will be assessed by my Department in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and other Government departments.