Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2011
115 Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of Ireland’s commitment to international arms control, in particular nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and in view of Ireland’s chairmanship of the OSCE, which we will take up in 2012, if he will inform Dáil Éireann when he intends to implement Ireland’s accession to the Antarctic Treaty. [24783/11]
View answerThe question of Ireland's possible accession to the Antarctic Treaty System is under consideration in those Government Departments which have responsibility for the areas covered by the Antarctic Treaties. A Government decision of 9 June 2010 authorised the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and the other relevant Ministers to conduct preparatory work on this issue. A process of inter-departmental consultation, chaired by my Department, is continuing. This includes an assessment of the legislative implications of accession; it is apparent that these could be significant.
