Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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219. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter (details supplied). [42078/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Government is firmly committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, several legislative measures have been implemented which were necessary to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. Enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 were significant steps on the pathway to the ratification of the Optional Protocol.

Further legislative amendments relating to the extra-territorial jurisdiction requirements under Article 3.1 are intended to ensure that the State is in compliance with certain outstanding aspects of the Protocol. These amendments have been included in the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022 which was approved for publication by the Government on 27 July 2022.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 (Act 28 of 2024) was signed into law on 17 July 2024, which amends the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act 1996 and the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008; and to provide for related matters, for the purposes of giving effect to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Following enactment of this legislation, officials in my Department will be working with the Attorney General’s Office on the next steps to ensure readiness across all relevant Departments.