Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 4

Written Answers. - Kimberley Process.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

251 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the outcome of the Kimberley process plenary meeting in South Africa between 29 and 31 October 2003; the positions taken by Irish representatives at the meeting; if an agreement was reached on regular impartial monitoring of country compliance; and if the Government has satisfied itself that the loopholes in the process have now been closed. [25892/03]

Ireland was not represented at the Kimberley process plenary meeting in South Africa as the European Commission was representing member states. My Department, however, represented Ireland at the meeting of the EC management committee for the Kimberley process on 20 October 2003. This meeting was devoted to the preparation and agreement of the EC position for the Sun City plenary meeting.

The outcome of the plenary meeting can be summarised as productive. First, agreement was secured on peer review and monitoring though on a voluntary basis with the objective that as many participants as possible should receive a "review visit" within three years. Review visits form only one part of the "peer review". The meeting also agreed that each participant would exchange a detailed annual report on its implementation, which would be analysed by the working group on monitoring. The results will be used to encourage further volunteers for visits but might also identify indications of serious non-compliance for which the document already provides for more intensive monitoring. The first annual report is due on 31 March 2004.
Substantial progress was achieved in other areas. The two Congos thrashed out a bilateral deal designed to end suspected wholesale smuggling of a significant percentage of Kimberley's diamonds across the water into Brazzaville. Further progress was reported on statistical returns in that by the end of the meeting, only five sets of data were outstanding in relation to the member participants. Finally, Canada takes over the chairmanship in 2004 with Russia as vice-chair. In future its appointed vice-chair would succeed as chair and therefore Russia becomes chairman in 2005. I am satisfied that the plenary meeting has achieved substantial progress in progressing its objectives of the Kimberley process.
Barr
Roinn