Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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It is certainly a very interesting petition. We will correspond with the Minister, seeking clarification on whether legislation is required.

The next is petition No. P00006/15, that Ireland should join the Antarctic Treaty, from Ms Rose Waldron. We have agreed to refer this petition to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for examination, report back and write to the petitioner, advising of the committee decision. We have agreed to correspond with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department to ask why there would be significant administrative costs associated with Ireland's accession. Notwithstanding this position, the committee has requested that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade reopen the interdepartmental discussions of 2009 to 2011 and explore further options associated with joining the Antarctic Treaty, such as non-consultative membership. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next petition is No. P00017/15, a citizenship matter from Mr. Jacob Owowdunni. Unfortunately, as it a personal matter, it must be deemed inadmissible, as we have no room in Standing Orders to address anything of a personal nature.

Petition No. P00024/15, which argues that Ireland should join the EU Schengen area, is from Mr. Daniel Haden. After deliberating on this petition, we have agreed to write to the Department of Justice and Equality and the Minister to ask that they outline, particularly in the context of the debate surrounding a possible British exit from the EU, the reasons Ireland did not sign up to the Schengen area in the first place. Given the developments in the UK relating to the referendum, we will ask if the Department has any intention of revisiting the decision not to sign up to the agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Petition No. P00019/15 deals with an amendment to the Garda Síochána Act 2005 from Mr. Christopher Galligan. We corresponded with the Department of Justice and Equality, raising the request that the Act be amended. The Department has responded and our committee considers the response to be reasonable. We will send the response to the petitioner and close the petition. Is that agreed? Agreed.