Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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605. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism has not been ratified by Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4731/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism in October 2008.

The purpose of the Convention is to further increase the effectiveness of existing international action in the fight against terrorism. Specifically, it provides for the creation of offences relating to public provocation to commit terrorist offences and recruitment and training for terrorism.

The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Act 2015 gives effect to the requirement to create those offences.

I can confirm that it is my intention that ratification should proceed to take place.

The Deputy will be aware that there is a related Protocol to the Convention. The 2015 Protocol supplements the Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and seeks to criminalise certain additional acts. The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2020, will give effect to the legislative requirements of the Protocol. The proposed legislation will also give effect to the outstanding legislative requirements arising from the EU Directive 2017/541 on combatting terrorism.