Legislation on the fourth referendum being put forward by the Government was passed in the Dail last night. The 23rd amendment of the Constitution Bill ratifies the Rome Statute. This provides for the setting-up of a permanent International Criminal Court, in relationship with the United Nations system.

The court will have jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

Introducing the Bill, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said the statute would come into force two months after 60 states have become party to it.

Ireland signed the statute on October 7th, 1998, he said. To date, 139 states have signed it, 29 have ratified or acceded to it. A permanent International Criminal Court is something Ireland has advocated for many years, Mr Cowen said. "It is clearly accepted that even in a time of war, there are basic rules that must be observed. However, repeated violations of these rules highlight a significant flaw in their operation: the lack of an adequate enforcement mechanism."