§ Lord Kilclooneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Irish Government have proceeded with arrangements to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities, as 127WA required by the Belfast Agreement; and whether the convention has been ratified by the United Kingdom. [HL6340]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:The Irish Government signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities on 1 February 1995. The Irish Government ratified the convention on 7 May 1999 and it came into force on 1 September 1999.
The UK Government signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities on I February 1995. The UK Government ratified the convention on 15 January 1998 and it came into force on I May 1998.