Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Irish Language
125. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
when he intends to make public the Irish language version of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination
and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. [7998/12]
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): The translation
of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary
Union is being done by the Council Secretariat and the intention is for the Council Secretariat
to publish all linguistic versions simultaneously. This is expected in the coming days. The
English language version of the Treaty is available at the following link —
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.doreference=DOC/12/2&aged=0&language=EN&
guiLanguage=en.
Constitutional Amendments
126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
if, in the event that a referendum on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in
the Economic and Monetary Union does not take place, he intends to have the treaty ratified
in advance of the passing of enabling legislation through the Oireachtas, such as the fiscal
responsibility Bill, or if ratification would only take place after the enabling legislation is signed
into law by the President; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/12]
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): As the
Deputy will be aware, following agreement on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and
Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union at the informal meeting of the European
Council on 30 January, and a subsequent meeting of the Government, I sought the views of
the Attorney General formally on what will be required by way of ratification in Ireland. The
Attorney General is now studying the legal implications carefully, and will, in due course,
deliver her advice.
Once her advice is received, the Government will consider it and will take whatever steps
are necessary. It is not helpful to speculate at this point on what those steps might be.
The Deputy can be assured that whatever path towards ratification is required, the
Oireachtas will be appropriately involved in the process.
Middle East Peace Process
127. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Trade if his attention has been drawn to the arrest and detention of a person (details supplied)
by the Israeli authorities under their administrative detention procedure, the fact that they are
currently more than 50 days into a hunger strike; and if he will support the call by Amnesty
International for the Israeli authorities to try or release them immediately. [8010/12]
128. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Trade if he will call on the Israeli Government to cease the practice of administrative detentions
as called by various human rights organisations. [8011/12]
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): I propose
to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together.
I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. The subject is generally acknowledged to
be a leader of Islamic Jihad. The circumstances of the subject’s hunger strike are not fully clear.
He is understood to be on hunger strike in protest over what he calls his unjust detention and
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