Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

International Agreements.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 May 2006

Wednesday, 3 May 2006

Ceisteanna (221)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

271 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland’s is a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959; if not, if he has examined the means by which Ireland may become one; if Ireland is a signatory of the Madrid Protocol of 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16151/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ireland is not party to either the Antarctic Treaty, or the Protocol to this Treaty known as the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection.

The Antarctic Treaty was signed on 1 December 1959 in Washington on behalf of twelve states — Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and USSR. The signature of the Treaty was the culmination of cooperative work undertaken by scientists from the twelve states in question during the period 1 July 1957 to 31 December 1958, designated by the United Nations as "International Geophysical Year". The Treaty entered into force on 23 June 1961.

The primary intention of the Treaty is to ensure "in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord". It applies to the area south of 60° South latitude, an area now designated as the Antarctic Treaty Area. More specifically, the Treaty prohibits nuclear tests and radioactive waste disposal by States Parties and promotes international scientific cooperation in Antarctica. It also sets aside the potential for sovereignty disputes between States Parties by providing that no new claims to territorial sovereignty or enlargement of standing claims would be made by States Parties.

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, signed in Madrid in 1991, entered into force on 14 January 1998 and supplements the 1959 Treaty. It designates Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science, and with the States Parties committing themselves to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems. Only states which are party to the Antarctic Treaty can become party to the Protocol.

While the Treaty has been in operation since 1961, support for it is far from universal and less than one quarter of states have become party. This is also the case with the 1991 Protocol.

The reason for the relatively small number of States Parties is that many states take the view that the Antarctic, like the deep sea bed and outer space, should be declared part of the "common heritage of mankind", the benefits of which must be shared with mankind as a whole on an equitable basis. These consider that a new UN agreement in which all states could have an input into its terms would be the best means of ensuring full accountability for actions undertaken in and concerning Antarctica.

Ireland, under successive governments, has been sympathetic to the view that the Antarctic should be seen as part of the common heritage shared universally and therefore has not acceded to the Treaty or the Protocol. The Government follow closely Antarctic-related developments. Ireland supported the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 57/51 on 30 December 2002 and 60/47 on 8 December 2005 which, amongst other things, affirmed that the management and use of Antarctica should be conducted in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and of promoting international cooperation for the benefit of mankind as a whole. The Government also welcomes the practice whereby States Parties to the Antarctic Treaty regularly provide the UN Secretary-General with information on their consultations and activities in Antarctica.

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