Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967

Number 8 of 1967

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND IMMUNITIES ACT 1967

REVISED

Updated to 15 July 2025

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 (7/2025), enacted 15 July 2025, and all statutory instruments up to and including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Privileges and Immunities) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 355 of 2025), made 15 July 2025, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number 8 of 1967

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND IMMUNITIES ACT 1967

REVISED

Updated to 15 July 2025

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Preliminary and General

Section
1.	Short title.
2.	The Minister.
2A.	Application of International Criminal Court Act 2006.
3.	Laying of orders before Houses of the Oireachtas.
4.	Repeals.

PART II

Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations and Consular Relations

5.	Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to have force of law.
6.	Vienna Convention on Consular Relations to have force of law.

PART III

General Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations

7.	Definitions (Part III).
8.	Legal capacity of United Nations.
9.	General immunities of Organisation under Convention.
10.	General immunities of judges and certain officials of Court.
11.	Exemption from income tax of judges of Court.
12.	General immunities of advocates appearing before Court.
13.	General immunities of witnesses at and persons performing duties assigned to them by Court.
14.	General immunities of officials of Court.
15.	Waiver of immunities connected with Court.

PART IV

Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialised Agencies of the United Nations

16.	Definitions (Part IV).
17.	Designation of organisations to which this Part applies.
18.	Amendment of annex to Convention.
19.	Legal capacity of organisation to which this Part applies.
20.	General immunities of organisations to which this Part applies under Convention.

PART V

General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe

21.	Definitions (Part V).
21A.	Construction of certain references in Third Protocol.
22.	Legal capacity of Council of Europe.
23.	General immunities under Agreement in relation to Council of Europe.
24.	General immunities of members of Commission.
24A.	General immunities in relation to Bank.
25.	General immunities of judges and registrars of Court.

PART VI

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

26.	The Organisation (Part VI).
27.	Legal capacity of Organisation.
28.	General immunities of experts of Organisation.
29.	General immunities under Agreement in relation to Organisation.
30.	Waiver of privileges.
31.	European Monetary Agreement.

PART VII

International Councils

32.	The Council (Part VII).
33.	Legal capacity of Council.
34.	General immunities under Agreement in relation to Council.
35.	General immunities of experts of Council.
36.	Waiver of privileges.
37.	Legal capacity of International Wheat Council.
38.	Legal capacity of International Sugar Council.

PART VIII

General

39.	Organisation to which this Part applies (Part VIII).
40.	Designation of organisations to which this Part applies.
41.	Legal capacity of organisation to which this Part applies.
42.	General immunities of organisation to which this Part applies.
42A.	Immunities under international agreements.
43.	Provisions for immunities, etc., in relation to international judicial bodies.
44.	International conferences in the State.
45.	General immunities of persons attending international conferences in the State.
46.	Offence.
47.	Evidence.
48.	Provisions to ensure reciprocity.
49.	Consent of Government in certain cases to appointment of Irish citizens to international organisations.
50.	Orders under Part VIII of Principal Act to have statutory effect.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

SECOND SCHEDULE

Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

THIRD SCHEDULE

Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

FOURTH SCHEDULE

Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialised Agencies of the United Nations.

FIFTH SCHEDULE

General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe.

SIXTH SCHEDULE

Enactments Repealed

Number 8 of 1967

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND IMMUNITIES ACT 1967

REVISED

Updated to 15 July 2025

AN ACT TO ENABLE EFFECT TO BE GIVEN SO FAR AS IRELAND IS CONCERNED TO CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS RESPECTING DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR RELATIONS, IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES AND CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS RESPECTING THE IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION, THE SPECIALISED AGENCIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND CERTAIN OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS, FOR THOSE PURPOSES TO MAKE PROVISION AS RESPECTS SUCH RELATIONS, IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE MATTERS AFORESAID. [15th April, 1967.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Revised Acts

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Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967