Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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188. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Second Optional Protocol on The United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child which includes the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography will be ratified (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10251/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government continues to be strongly committed to the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A number of significant pieces of legislation had to be passed to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. The enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 constituted key steps on the pathway to the ratification of the Optional Protocol.

My Department continues to engage with the Office of the Attorney General to determine whether a small number of additional legislative measures may be required to ensure that the State is compliant with all of the extra-territorial jurisdiction requirements under Article 3.1 of the Protocol. My officials are considering advices and, if further legislative amendments are considered necessary, I will bring those forward at the earliest opportunity.