23.—(1) The Minister for Foreign Affairs may by order declare—

(a) that any state specified in the order is a party state, and

(b) that a designation of an appropriate authority (the details of which shall be set out in the order) has been made to the Secretary-General of the United Nations by that state pursuant to Article 21(4) of the Agreement.

(2) An order that is in force under subsection (1) shall be prima facie evidence that any state specified in the order is a party state.

(3) The Minister for Foreign Affairs may by order amend or revoke an order under subsection (1).

(4) Every order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made.