Vol. 490 No. 6
15 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the progress being made to have Irish proposals in relation to whaling sanctuaries being accepted by the International Whaling Commission since she last reported on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10815/98]
Following a package of proposals presented by Ireland for discussion at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Monaco in October 1997, the Irish commissioner, who is also the current Chairman of the IWC, called an intersessional meeting of whaling commissioners. This meeting was held in Antigua in February last and was attended by representatives of 17 countries with all the major viewpoints within the IWC being represented. The agenda took the form of an individual discussion on each of the five elements of the Irish proposal.
This meeting was a consultative one where no decisions or negotiations took place. The detailed discussion of the proposals indicated the essential areas at issue and provided each of the participants with a clear understanding of all viewpoints. The meeting was very useful and there was consensus that the process was worth pursuing at the next meeting of the IWC which begins on 11 May next. It will be a matter for the delegates at that meeting to consider if these proposals form an acceptable basis for agreement. I have already stated clearly on the record of this House that the proposals put forward by Ireland are intended to ensure that fewer whales will be killed and that any whaling which does take place will be strictly regulated.
