Item 153: Establishment of an International Criminal Court

New York, 22 October 1998

Mr. Chairman,

[...] Having reached that milestone, we must now continue with our work to ensure that the Court is established as soon as possible. I am pleased to be able to say that Ireland signed the Statute on 7 October 1998. Ireland is now committed to proceeding with the work of the Preparatory Commission, which was established by the Conference to prepare proposals for practical arrangements for the coming into operation of the Court, in as efficient and as effective a way possible. Thus we look forward to participating in the work of the Commission and we firmly support it having the necessary time to allow it to complete its work without any delay. We must respond without hesitation to the momentum and will that undoubtedly exists for the early establishment of the Court.

We also look forward to work being continued in the Preparatory Commission on satisfactory provisions to govern the crime of aggression to ensure that the Court will be in a position to exercise its jurisdiction over that crime. Much valuable work was done in relation to provisions on the crime of aggression both before and during the Diplomatic Conference and those efforts should be built upon. [...]