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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 4

Written Answers. - International Agreements.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

89 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the international agreements under the auspices of his Department which 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 location where each agreement was adopted or opened for signature; and when it is proposed to sign each agreement or become a party to it. [11376/97]

The position in relation to my Department is as follows:

The European Convention on Transfrontier Television has not as yet been signed. The body responsible for the convention is the Council of Europe and it was opened for signature in Strasbourg on 5 May 1989. It is Ireland's intention to sign and ratify this convention, but it is under amendment at present.

The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species was opened for signature in March 1973 in Washington D.C. and Ireland signed it the following year. It is administered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme. This convention cannot be ratified until the amendments to the Wildlife Act, 1976, which I propose to introduce later this year, have been enacted. However, the provisions of the convention have been implemented by EU Directive 3626/82. This directive will be replaced by EU Directive 338/97 on 1 June 1997.
The Unidroit Convention on the International Return of Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects was adopted in Rome on 23 June 1995 and has not as yet been signed by Ireland. My Department is considering whether to become a party to this convention. The issue of becoming a party is also directly relevant to the Department of Justice. It is envisaged that a decision will be taken in the light of the conclusion of the Law Reform Commission which is currently finalising a report on the convention. The report is due later this year.
European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages charter was opened for signature by the Council of Europe for signing on 5 November 1992. While I am disposed to signing this charter, a number of a legal and constitutional issues relating to it remain to be resolved.
The European Convention on Cinemato-graphic Co-production was opened for signature by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 2 October 1992 and came into force on 1 April 1994 when five member states had ratified it. My Department is currently seeking legal advice on this matter with a view to signing this convention at an early date.
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