Vol. 523 No. 1
669 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposed international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department being nego tiated or prepared; the international organisation, if any, in each case through whose machinery the agreement is being negotiated; if it is proposed to ratify or accede to the agreement, if adopted; if so, if legislation will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19548/00]
670 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department 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; if it is proposed to sign the agreement; if so, when; if legislation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19563/00]
671 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his 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; if it is proposed to ratify or accede to the agreement; if so, when; if legislation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19578/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 669 to 671, inclusive, together.
The information requested is set out in the following tables:
International Multilateral Agreements under negotiation:
|
Agreement |
International Organisation |
Proposed Action |
|
Instrument for implementing international action on certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) |
UNEP |
Signature and legislative requirements will be considered on completion of the negotiations. |
|
Agreement |
Date and Place Opened for Signature |
International Organisation |
Proposed Action |
|
Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo) |
25 February 1991Espoo, Finland |
UN/ECE |
It is intended to ratify in 2000. Secondary legislation will be required |
|
European Charter of Local Self Government |
15 October 1985Strasbourg |
Council of Europe |
It is intended to ratify. Dail approval to ratification will be sought as part of the renewal programme for Local Government. |
|
Agreement concerning the adoption of Uniform conditions for Periodical Technical Inspections of Wheeled Vehicles and the Reciprocal Recognition of Such Inspections |
13 November 1997Vienna |
UN/ECE |
Ratification and necessary legislation (if any) under consideration. |
|
Protocol (Kyoto) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |
16 March 1998New York |
United Nations |
Arrangements for ratification will be made in conjunction with ratification by the EU and its Member States. Need for legislation is under consideration |
|
Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Geneva Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution |
25 June 1998Aarhus |
UN/ECE |
Ratification and necessary legislation (if any) under consideration. |
|
Protocol on Heavy Metals to the Geneva Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution |
25 June 1998Aarhus |
UN/ECE |
Ratification and necessary legislation (if any) under consideration. |
|
Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters |
25 June 1998Aarhus |
UN/ECE |
Ratification and necessary legislation (if any) under consideration. |
|
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone |
30 November 1999Gothenburg |
UN/ECE |
Ratification and necessary legislation (if any) under consideration |
|
Agreement |
Date and Place Opened for Signature |
International Organisation |
Proposed Action |
|
Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity |
15 May 2000 |
UNEP |
Ratification is proposed and will occur in an EU context. Any necessary amendments to EU legislation are likely to give rise to amendments to national legislation. |
|
Montreal Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer |
Signature was not required |
UNEP |
Ratification and necessary legislation (if any) under consideration. |
|
Amendment to the Basel Convention on control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal |
Signature was not required |
UNEP |
European Commission has approved and ratified the amendment on behalf of the Community. Ratification by 62 parties is required for entry into force. Under consideration. |
|
Agreement |
Date and Place Opened for Signature |
International Organisation |
Proposed Action |
|
Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes |
17 March 1992Helsinki |
UN/ECE |
It is intended to sign following confirmation that no additional legislation is required to ratify the Convention. |
|
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the control of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or their transboundary fluxes |
18 November 1991New York |
UN/ECE |
Signature no longer relevant following signature of Gothenburg Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone. |
|
Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law |
04 November 1998Strasbourg |
Council of Europe |
Implications of signing ratification under examination |
|
Convention on CivilLiability for Damage resulting from activities dangerous to the environment. |
21 June 1993Lugano |
Council of Europe |
While there are no current proposals for Irish participation, the matter is being kept under review.I am aware of a number of older international agreements (1949-75), primarily in the road traffic area, in which Ireland has not participated. |
