Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 4

Written Answers. - Endangered Species.

Enda Kenny

Question:

59 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposal of South Africa to ask the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to approve the sale of 30 tonnes of ivory to Japan in April 2000; if his attention has been drawn to a significant increase in illegal elephant slaughter arising from these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8446/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

Trade in endangered species is a matter of EU competence. Ireland is not yet a direct party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, and does not have a vote at the conference of the parties in Kenya next month where this issue will be discussed.

The terms of the convention were adopted by the European Union in 1982 by way of a regulation which was directly applicable and in force in Ireland. A revised regulation, adopted in 1997, further improved the legal regime, including additional and stricter provisions than the 1982 regulation to facilitate more uniform application in the single market.

In tandem with my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, who has responsibility for wildlife matters, I will support any measures which would serve to reduce the illegal slaughter of elephants for the ivory trade where populations are most threatened.