I move:—
That the Dáil approves of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed at Geneva on the 24th day of September, 1931, a copy of which was laid on the Table of the Dáil on the 30th March, 1938, and recommends the Government to take the necessary steps to accede to the said Convention.
This Convention is actually being operated here at present under the provisions of the Whale Fisheries Act passed last year. An International Convention was thought necessary some few years ago owing to the fact that "floating factories" were beginning to take the place of the old type of factories for dealing with whales, and that there was a danger of the extinction of certain valuable species of whales. The object of the Convention is to prevent the uneconomic exploitation of whales and, generally, to conserve the resources of the industry. Under Article 4 of the Convention the killing of certain species is prohibited, and under Article 5 there is a prohibition against the killing of certain whales and of young whales with calves. Under Article 6 it is provided that the fullest possible use must be made of any whales that are caught. They must take all the oil they possibly can from them except in the case of whales, or parts of whales, intended for human consumption. It is provided under Article 12 that they must supply certain information to the International Bureau of Whaling Statistics. The provisions of the Convention apply to all the waters of the world. Twenty-four States have signed the Convention. The participation of this country in the Convention does not necessitate any further legislation, nor does it necessitate any further expenditure.
