Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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60. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland's involvement in the negotiations for the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, signed in 1961 and became effective in 1964, with its 50th anniversary this coming April; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1220/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The origins of the Vienna Convention lie in the work of the International Law Commission on the codification of international law on diplomatic relations and immunities. The Commission considered the topic for a number of years before adopting draft articles with commentary, which were presented to the United Nations General Assembly in 1958. Following on from this, a United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities met in Vienna from 2 March to 14 April 1961. The Conference adopted the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, consisting of fifty-three articles covering most key aspects of diplomatic relations between States to enable diplomatic missions and agents to carry out their official functions effectively.

Ireland was represented at the Conference in Vienna by the Irish Minister to Austria, Mr. T.J. Horan and the Assistant Legal Adviser at the Department of External Affairs, Mr. D.P. Waldron. The Irish delegation participated actively in the negotiations. Ireland signed the Convention on 18 April 1961 and ratified it on 10 May 1967. The Convention is given the force of law in the State under the terms of the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967.