Ireland signs convention on terrorism prevention

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern today announced that Ireland has signed the Council of Europe's Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism 2005.

The purpose of the convention is to further increase the effectiveness of existing international action in the fight against terrorism.

It provides for the creation of offences relating to public provocation to commit terrorist offences and recruitment and training for terrorism.

Welcoming the signing of the convention, the Minister said: "Ireland is committed, with our partners in Europe, to taking a strong approach to combating terrorism.

" We cannot forget that terrorism constitutes a gross violation of the core values of peaceful, democratic societies.

"The international terrorist threat has evolved rapidly in recent years and international co-operation is essential in standing up to it."

The convention was adopted in May 2005 and entered into force in June 2007. Ireland is the 42nd member state to have signed the convention; 14 member states have ratified it.

Although some of the offences necessitated by the Convention substantially exist in Irish law already, it is intended to legislate specifically for the various offences necessitated by the Convention and by a complementary EU Council instrument currently under negotiation.