Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - International Multilateral Agreements.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

308 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposed international multilateral agreements under the auspices of her Department which are currently being negotiated or prepared; in each case the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement is being negotiated; whether it is proposed to ratify or accede to the agreement if adopted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1020/98]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

309 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of her Department which have been signed but not ratified or acceded to by the State; the date and place it was opened for signature in each case; the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement was negotiated; whether it is proposed to ratify or accede to the agreement; if so, when this will occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1035/98]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

310 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of her Department to which her attention has been drawn and which have not been signed by the State; the date and place it was opened for signature in each case; the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement was negotiated; whether it is proposed to sign the agreement; if so, when this will occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1050/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 308, 309 and 310 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following schedules.

Schedule A

Department of Public Enterprise

International Multilateral Agreements Adopted

No.	Agreement	International Organisation Responsible	Place and Date of Adoption	Ireland's Position
1	Convention on the International Recognition of Rights in Aircraft	International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)	Geneva, 19 June 1948	No proposals at present to ratify. Discussions are ongoing within the industry on the possibility of a more up to date convention.
2	European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road	United Nations Economic Commission for Europe	Geneva, 30 September 1957	It is intended that Ireland will accede to the Agreement in 1998.
3	Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy	OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)	Paris, 29 July 1960	To date this Agreement has not been considered appropriate for signature, having regard to some aspects of the content. However, this matter falls to be reconsidered, following consultation with the Attorney General, in the light of recent Nuclear Safety Agreements.
4	Brussels Supplementary Convention	OECD (NEA)	Brussels, 21 May 1963	To date this Agreement has not been considered appropriate for signature, having regard to some aspects of the content. However, this matter falls to be reconsidered, following consultation with the Attorney General, in the light of recent Nuclear Safety Agreements.
5	Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage	International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)	Vienna, 21 May 1963	To date this Agreement has not been considered appropriate for signature, having regard to some aspects of the content. However, this matter falls to be reconsidered, following consultation with the Attorney General, in the light of recent Nuclear Safety Agreements.
6	Joint Protocol relating to the application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention	NEA and IAEA	Vienna, 21 September 1988	To date this Agreement has not been considered appropriate for signature, having regard to some aspects of the content. However, this matter falls to be reconsidered, following consultation with the Attorney General, in the light of recent Nuclear Safety Agreements.
7	1994 Congress of the Universal Postal Union (certain Acts thereof)	Universal Postal Union	14 September 1994	The Acts have been signed and ratification is expected as soon as possible.
8	Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage	IAEA	Vienna, 12 September 1997	The question of signature is under review in consultation with the Attorney General.
9	Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage	IAEA	Vienna, 12 September 1997	The question of signature is under review in consultation with the Attorney General.
10	Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management	IAEA	29 September 1997	It is proposed to ratify the Convention by September 1998.
11	Energy Charter Treaty and Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects	Provisional Energy Charter Conference	Lisbon, 16-17 December 1994	The Treaty and Protocol have been signed. It is intended that ratification will take place as soon as possible after the introduction of necessary amending national legislation.

Schedule B

Department of Public Enterprise

International Multilateral Agreements under Negotiation*

No.	Agreement	International Organisation Responsible	Current Status
1	Negotiations between the European Union and the United States of America in the field of air transport	EU	Ultimate objective is for a common aviation area between the EU and the US. Negotiations between the EU and the US are ongoing. Adoption of the Agreement is ultimately a matter for the EU Council of Ministers.
2	European Aviation Safety Authority	EU	Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) of Europe have drafted a Convention to replace existing JAA arrangements which govern the JAA and which are not legally binding. Ireland is a signatory to the existing arrangements. The draft Convention has been put on hold in view of proposals put forward by the European Commission for the establishment of a European Aviation Safety Authority. Discussions on such an Authority are ongoing at EU Council.
3	Negotiations on air transport market access agreements between the European Union and Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in the field of air transport	EU	Ultimate objective is for a common aviation area between the EU and these countries. Agreements are being negotiated by the European Commission with the individual states. Negotiations are ongoing.
4	Transport negotiations with Switzerland	EU	Ultimate objective is for a common transport area between the EU and Switzerland. Agreement deals with land and air transport. Agreement is being negotiated by the EU Commission.
5	Energy Charter Supplementary Treaty	Energy Charter Conference	Negotiations proceeding.

*Ireland's position in regard to signature or ratification of the above Agreements is not yet determined apart from the Energy Charter Supplementary Treaty which Ireland intends to sign and ratify.