Shane Ross (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, for his full reply and for not sticking too slavishly to his script. There is one point that I do not understand. Government policy appears to be that the Antarctic should be considered as what he calls "the common heritage of mankind" and, therefore, would be treated in a manner analogous to outer space. Is the Government pursuing that policy in any active way? It is not something that the Minister of State could answer immediately, and could not be expected to, but perhaps he could get back to me on it.