Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 4

Written Answers. - International Agreements.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

215 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 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. [7203/02]

216.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 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. [7218/02]

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

217 Mr. Quinn 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. [7233/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 217, 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 forSignature	International Organisation	Proposed Action
Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo)	25 February 1991Espoo, Finland	UN/ECE	It is intended to seek Dáil approval to ratification before the Easter recess
Agreement concerning the adoption of Uniform Conditions for Periodic 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.
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

Agreement	Date and Place Opened forSignature	International Organisation	Proposed Action
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
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 Basle 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.
Protocol (Kyoto) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change	16 March 1998New York	United Nations	Arrangements for ratification are being made in conjunction with ratification by the EU and its Member States. It is intended to seek Dáil approval to ratification before the Easter recess
European Charter of Local Self Government	15 October 1985Strasbourg	Council of Europe	It is intended to ratify. Dáil approval to ratification is being sought as part of the renewal programme for Local Government.

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	04 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.

I am aware of a number of older international agreements, 1949-75, primarily in the road traffic area, in which Ireland has not participated.