Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 1

Written Answers. - International Agreements.

Bernard Allen

Question:

240 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposed international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department being negotiated or prepared; the international organisation 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. [17623/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

241 Mr. Allen 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 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. [17624/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

242 Mr. Allen 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 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. [17625/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 to 242, inclusive, together.

There are no international multilateral agreements under negotiation at present. The information requested concerning agreements signed but not ratified, and agreements not yet signed is set out in the following tables:

International Multilateral Agreements signed but not ratified

Agreement	Date and Place Opened for Signature	International Organisation	Proposed Action
Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters	25 June 1998	UN/ECE	Ratification and necessary legislation being examined. Relevant draft Directives are under consideration at EU level.
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety	15 May 2000	UNEP	Ratification is proposed and will occur in an EU context, taking account of legislative developments at that level.
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.
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone	30 November 1999Gothenberg	UN/ECE	Ratification and necessary legislation (if any) under consideration.
Instrument for Implementing International Action on Certain Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs)	23 May 2001Stockholm	UNEP	Ratification and necessary legislation (if any) under consideration
Protocol Additional to the Agreement between the Non-Nuclear Weapons States of the European Atomic Energy Community and the International Atomic Energy Agency in implementation of Article III (1) and (4) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons	22 September 1998Vienna	The International Atomic Energy Agency	Ireland intends to ratify the Convention. The Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill, 2000 when enacted will provide for Ireland's ratification of the Protocolumn It is envisaged that the Bill will be enacted early next year.

Agreement	Date and Place Opened for Signature	International Organisation	Proposed Action
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
Beijing 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. Necessary legislation (if any) under consideration.
European Charter of Local Self Government	15 October 1985Strasbourg	Council of Europe	It is intended to ratify. Dail approval to ratification is being sought as part of the renewal programme for local government.
Annex V and associated Appendix 3 to the OSPAR Agreement (dealing with Conservation of Marine Biodiversity)	July 1998Sintra, Portugal	OSPAR Commission	Ratification under consideration
AEWA (African Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds Agreement)	August 1996Netherlands	UNEP	Ratification under consideration

International Multilateral Agreements not signed

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.
Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law	4 November 1998Strasbourg	Council of Europe	Implications of signing under examination.
Convention on Civil Liability 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.
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage	Adopted byUNESCO in 2001.	UNESCO	No signature stage, states consenting to be bound by it move straight to ratification. Legislative provision being included in the National Monuments Bill.