The State will provide accelerated mechanisms for the arrest and surrender of people wanted in connection with serious international crimes, including genocide, following the publication of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Bill 2003 today.
Ireland's contribution will also include dealing with requests for freezing and confiscation of property, to providing evidence during investigations.
An Irish Judge at the International War Crimes Tribunal for Yugoslavia, Ms Maureen Harding Clark, has been elected as one of the 18 judges of the Court.
The Bill, published by the Minister for Justice Mr McDowell, gives effect to the statute of the ICC which entered into force on 1st July 2002. A constitutional referendum ratifying Ireland's membership of the ICC was held in 2001.
The statute provides for the establishment of the Court with jurisdiction to investigate, prosecute and punish persons who commit the most serious offences of concern to international community - genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ICC has jurisdiction over individuals who commit crimes on the territory of a signed-state, rather than states.
The Court will also have jurisdiction over crimes committed anywhere in the world which are referred to it by the United Nations Security Council.
In addition the Court may also persecute those in authority who order crimes to be committed, including heads of state.
To date 91 states have ratified the court.
