Vol. 460 No. 3
255 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment the proposed international agreements under the auspices of his Department which are currently being drafted or prepared; and the international organisation, if any, responsible for the proposed agreement in each case. [19426/96]
256 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment the international agreements under the auspices of his Department which, as of 1 January 1996, have been signed by the State but have not been ratified; the international organisation, if any, responsible for the agreement in each case; the date and place each agreement was adopted or opened for signature; the date it was signed by the State; whether it is proposed to ratify each agreement; and if so, when. [19445/96]
257 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment the international agreements under the auspices of his Department which, as of 1 January 1996, have not been signed by the State and which it is proposed that the State should sign or become a party to; the international organisation, if any, responsible for the agreement in each case; the date and place each agreement was adopted or opened for signature; and when it is proposed to sign each agreement or become a party to it. [19460/96]
I propose to take Question Nos. 255, 256 and 257, inclusive, together. The information requested is set out in the following table:
International Agreements under Negotiation.
|
Agreement |
International Organisation |
|
Three new Protocols to the Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution relating to: |
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. |
|
(i) Persistent organic compounds; |
|
|
(ii) Heavy Metals: |
|
|
(iii) Revision of the existing Sofia Protocol concerning the control of Nigrogen Oxides. |
|
|
Protocol to Framework Convention on Climate Change. |
United Nations (Framework Convention on Climate Change). |
|
Agreement |
International Organisation |
Date and Place Opened to Signature |
Date Signed by Ireland |
Proposed Action |
|
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR) |
Oslo and Paris Commissions (OSPAR) |
22 September 1992, Paris |
22 September 1992 |
It is intended to ratify in 1996 following enactment of the Dumping at Sea Bill, 1995 |
|
Second Sulphur Protocol (Oslo Protocol) to the Geneva Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution |
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe |
14 June 1994, Oslo |
17 October 1994 |
It is intended to ratify in 1996 |
|
Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary context |
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe |
25 February 1991, Espoo, Finland |
27 February 1991 |
It is intended to ratify following the adoption of amending EU Directive on EIA |
|
Copenhagen Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer |
United Nations Environment Programme |
November 1992, Copenhagen |
Agreed November 1992 |
Instrument of Acceptance has been signed — Lodgment of the Instrument is imminent |
|
Agreement |
International Organisation |
Date and Place Opened to Signature |
Proposed Action |
|
Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes |
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe |
17 March 1992, Helsinki |
Ireland will accede to this in 1996 |
|
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Protocol to the Geneva Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution |
United Nations Economic Commissions in Europe |
18 November 1991, Geneva |
Signature is contingent on the implementation of a number of EU Directives in relation to VOCs |
|
European Charter of Local Self-Government |
Council of Europe |
15 October 1985, Strasbourg |
Examination of the implications of ratification is nearing completion. Ratification will be effected as soon as possible after this work is completed |
