Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 6

Written Answers. - Killing of Pilot Whales.

Seán Haughey

Question:

65 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the action, if any, the Government is taking to stop the killing of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9799/95]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

68 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Ealaíon, Cultúir agus Gaeltachta cén teachtaireacht a thug sé don International Whaling Commission le linn an Chomhdhála i mBaile Átha Cliath atá ar siúl faoi láthair. [9867/95]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 65 agus 68 le chéile.

Le linn dom bheith ag cur fáilte roimh na toscairí ag an 47ú Cruinniú Bliantúil den International Whaling Commission (IWC) i gCaisleán Átha Cliath inné rinne mé tagairt láidir don tábhacht a leagann an tír seo ar ról an chaomhnaithe i ndáil leis na míolta móra. Seo a leanas slíocht as mo chuid cainte:

"Ireland's position on whaling has always been to adopt a pro-conservation role in accordance with scientific evidence and in line with the principles of sustainable development ... While it is no longer part of our culture to eat whale meat and while we have chosen not to utilize consumptively the whale resources in our waters, we recognize the rights of other nations to follow their own cultures. As Minister responsible for cultural affairs as well as conservation, I believe it would be wrong and in the nature of cultural imperialism for Ireland to attempt to impose our cultural values on those nations whose populations have depended on the whale for generations. Yet we will seek to convince them of our position. On this island, we have different cultural traditions and are learning to live together in peace and harmony and to respect each other. Accordingly, Ireland will respect other nations' cultural values, although we will continue to demand the highest possible standards of conservation and will insist on transparent control and supervision systems and that any animals killed will be killed as humanely as possible. We should also like the same standards of care and conservation applied to all cetaceans and not just to the great whales."

Tá socruithe agam go gcuirfear cóip den ráiteas iomlán a thug mé don IWC chuig na Teachtaí.

With regard to the killing of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands, I will be conveying our views to the Faroese Government in the light of my statements during the debate on a Private Members' Motion on Whaling in Seanad Éireann on 24 May 1995 and of my address yesterday to the IWC. It should be noted that Denmark and the Faroe Islands do not accept that the IWC has competence in the matter of small cetaceans.