Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 1

Written Answers. - Landmines Convention.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

25 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will host an international meeting in 1998 to assess the state of the anti-personnel mine problem, including the progress on the clearance of mines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22376/97]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

42 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of countries which have ratified the convention on landmines; the representations, if any, he has made to countries which are declining to ratify the convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22359/97]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 42 together. The convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction was opened for signature on Wednesday, 3 December in Ottawa. I was pleased to represent the Government at the Ottawa Conference and also to be among the first of 121 foreign ministers and other representatives to sign the convention. Three countries, Ireland, Canada and Mauritius, also ratified the convention on 3 December. I met the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, who was in Ottawa for this event, to hand over a copy of our instrument of ratification.

The next step in our efforts to rid the world of these barbaric devices is to secure the rapid entry into force of the convention. For this to occur smoothly we need to have the requisite implementation machinery in place by the end of next year. The convention itself does not provide for a preparatory mechanism — as is otherwise common with treaties. This is mainly because the cost of servicing a cumbersome diplomatic process would be beyond the resources of many of the mine-affected countries.

The core group of countries to which Ireland belongs, and which was instrumental in bringing about the conclusion of this treaty in a remarkably short space of time, has therefore looked at alternative approaches to developing the machinery needed for implementation. One of the areas that must be addressed is that of the data regarding the location and clearance of mines and assistance for mine victims so that questions of mine clearance, mine awareness and victim assistance can be more effectively tackled once the convention has entered into force.

After consultations with my core group colleagues, I announced in Ottawa that Ireland would host a meeting in Dublin in autumn 1998 to address these issues at expert level with a view to producing a report. This meeting is being prepared and co-ordinated with the Canadian Government and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), in a co-operative approach between governmental and non-governmental bodies. Such close co-operation is the defining characteristic of this process.

By pooling the information resources of governments, international organisations and NGOs in this way we should be able to build up a clear picture of the extent of the tasks ahead in the implementing phase of the convention.

We all clearly wish to see this convention gain universal acceptance as soon as possible, following its early entry into force. We will continue to work, both in all appropriate multilateral fora where we are represented and also bilaterally, to secure universal adherence to this convention. The target must be for the mines convention to become a norm of international law before the year 2000 so that the hope we have kindled among the populations of so many mine-affected countries may become reality.