In September 2000 the Government signed the optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. While the Government has stated over the past 21 years that it is strongly committed to the ratification of the protocol and has enacted significant legislation to ensure Ireland is in compliance with the obligations under the protocol, the country is still not in a position to ratify it. Will the Taoiseach intervene to ensure the protocol is ratified as early as possible in 2022?

I will explore that with the Minister and we will come back to the Deputy on it. I accept his strong commitment to the issue.