Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Good afternoon to the Minister and colleagues. I raise a local issue with the Minister today. While it is primarily local, it has international significance. I had a pint in the South Pole Inn in Annascaul, County Kerry, a while back. It was Tom Crean's old pub. Last week, I got to visit the Shackleton Museum in Athy. I am not sure if the Minister has been there but I thoroughly recommend a visit. Many people do not appreciate the links that Kerry and Kildare have with the south Atlantic and with the Antarctic, in particular. It is on that basis that I raise the issue of the Antarctic Treaty with the Minister and specifically the fact that Ireland has yet to ratify it. It is an excellent treaty. Like all good treaties, it is very short. It is only seven pages long. It is written in plain English with no legalese. It is fully available on the Internet with just a single click. The essence of the treaty is noble. It wants to maintain the Antarctic for peaceful purposes only, to make sure that it remains a demilitarised zone, that there is no nuclear testing, that there is no disposal of nuclear waste, and that any research from scientific stations there is shared with other signatories to the treaty. It is unusual that Ireland is not involved in this. The treaty was established in 1959. It initially had 12 signatories and now has 53. Those 53 countries represent 80% of the planet's population.

Despite the great links that Ireland has with the Antarctic, there is no intent to sign up to this treaty that I am aware of. There has been a campaign for the last 20 years. I give credit to Senator Mark Wall, as well as to Senator Vincent Martin from the Minister's party, who have raised this in the past. There have been positive soundings and there has been no official resistance to it, but as yet there has been absolutely no delivery. Perhaps it is appropriate that Shackleton's ship was called the Endurance, because this campaign has displayed remarkable endurance in persevering and trying to wrestle with the bureaucracy to get this project over the line.

Has there been any process in advancing Ireland's ratification process of the Antarctic Treaty? Will the Minister kindly update the House? Is there any indication that the ratification process will be completed by the end of the year, as previously committed to?

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