I move:
That Dáil Éireann approves the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals adopted in Bonn on the 23rd June, 1979, and signed, subject to ratification, on behalf of Ireland on 20th June, 1980.
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, known as the Bonn Convention, is an international convention designed to protect endangered species of wild animals, including birds, which migrate between States or cross national jurisdictional boundaries on the seas. It was promoted by the Federal Republic of Germany in response to a resolution of the Action Plan adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972. The final text of the convention was prepared in June 1979 at a two-week diplomatic conference in Bonn, attended by 77 States, including Ireland. It was signed by the Irish Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany on 20 June 1980. It will enter into force three months after it has been ratified by 15 States. So far no State has ratified the convention. The approval of the Dáil of the convention is necessary before Ireland can ratify it because it may eventually involve a charge on public funds.
The secretariat for the convention and its funding are to be provided for the first four years by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). If after that time UNEP is not prepared to continue the service, alternative arrangements will have to be made by the conference of the parties, that is those states which have ratified or acceded to the convention. It seems that the scale of funding likely to find acceptance by them would be on the basis of United Nations contributions, which are based on GNP and population figures. Any decision on funding would, however, require a unanimous vote at the conference of the parties. It is not possible at this stage to estimate what the Irish contribution might be.
The aim of the convention is to protect endangered or threatened species of animals which migrate between different States or cross national jurisdiction boundaries on the seas. It provides for measures to control the taking of these species, for protection and management plans, the maintenance of networks of suitable habitats and the prevention, reduction or control of discharges of substances harmful to migratory species.
The migratory species with which Ireland is concerned are wild birds and whale species, including dolphins and porpoises. Existing legislation embodied in the Wildlife Act, 1976 and the Whale Fisheries Act, 1937 is adequate to enable Ireland to implement the convention. The Wildlife Act protects all wild birds and whales within a three-mile limit. The Whale Fisheries Act effectively bans whaling within our 200-mile exclusive fishery limit, and whaling outside those limits is prohibited for Irish registered ships except under licence. No licences have been issued since 1940.
Close international co-operation in the field of wildlife conservation is vital to the protection of our wildlife — particularly migratory species. Ireland has always participated to the fullest extent possible in international conservation activities and agreements and the present convention represents a major initiative in this increasingly important area for the protection of our natural heritage.
I now move that the terms of this convention be approved.