asked the Taoiseach if the Government intend to ratify the UN Convention of 1979 on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, having regard to the fact that this convention has now been ratified by virtually all other countries in western Europe.

I would refer the Deputy to the national statement which I made at the World Conference to mark the final year of the UN Decade for Women in Nairobi, Kenya, last July. In that statement, I said that every effort is being made to accede to the convention and that it is the Government's intention to accede before the end of this year. I am happy to inform the Deputy that this is still the position.

As to the suggestion in the Deputy's question that this convention has now been ratified by virtually all other countries in western Europe, he may be interested to know that, in so far as the other member states of the European Communities are concerned, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom have yet to ratify this convention while the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium and Italy only did so within the past few months.

Does the Minister confirm that the convention will be ratified by this country before the end of the year? Is there a clear commitment in that regard?

I will repeat the answer to the question. The statement which I made in July said that every effort would be made to accede to the convention and it is the Government's intention to see that this happens before the end of the year.