IRELAND PASSES TWO CONVENTIONS; FOUR MORE TO GO

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001831 SIPDIS S/CT IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL KTFN SUBJECT: IRELAND PASSES TWO CONVENTIONS; FOUR MORE TO GO REF: STATE 269653 ¶1. On December 21, Emboff delivered reftel points to First Secretary, Maurice Biggar, UN Desk, at the DFA. On December SIPDIS 9, Ireland became party to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (reftel points D and E). ¶2. According to Biggar, and other contacts at DFA and Department of Justice, passing new anti-terrorism legislation and adopting the remaining four UN Conventions against terrorism are high priorities for the GOI. In 2002, the GOI introduced legislation, the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill, that would pave the way for Ireland's accession to all 12 counter-terrorism Conventions. This Bill passed through the Irish Parliament's Lower House in December 2004, and the Upper House will vote on it in early February ¶2005. The President is expected to sign this Bill into law. ¶3. Once this legislation is signed, according to Biggar, the GOI will take the decision to accede to the four remaining Conventions. Note: Per Irish law, any international treaty that results in charges on public funds must meet approval of the Irish Parliament. End Note. Biggar expects the Lower House to approve the terms of the Conventions and then submit a "motion of approval" to either the Minister of Justice or Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister will then draw up the instruments of accession. Biggar expects that the four remaining Conventions will be submitted simultaneously after passing the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill. The process usually takes 90 days once the "motion of approval" is passed by the Parliament. KENNY