Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On 30 January, the Tánaiste said he was seeking a legal analysis of the genocide convention and the court's provisional measures. Has he received that analysis and, if so, has he taken any action on foot of it? South Africa has again gone before the ICJ to seek further provisional measures in light of recent developments. I agree with Deputy Gannon that it is unfair of the international community to put the entire burden on South Africa. To be quite clear, and this is important, there is no prohibition on Ireland seeking to intercede formally at this or any other time. In the case of Ukraine v. Russia, the court observed that the articles of the statute "do not restrict the right of intervention to a particular phase of the proceedings". Notwithstanding that point, the questions I have put to the Tánaiste are not about the actual date of intervention. I was instead asking about the date of making a declaration concerning intervening. The Tánaiste knows this would send a very strong message internationally on the part of Ireland.

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