Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming in to take this important issue. When I arrived in, I thought we would be debating the White Continent. I started off thinking that it was the Lilywhites that we were debating but there is a long Irish association with Antarctica. I would even say that part of why this is important is that it speaks to the importance of our foreign policy, to which I will refer.

The Antarctic Treaty was unique in that it came about at the time of the Cold War. It came about at a time when many nations were not trusting each other. In a way, it was phenomenal that 12 countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union, came together and realised the importance of every area south of 60°.

For Ireland, and this is why I think this is important and why I support Senator Joe O'Reilly's point on the Arctic Council, it is about the core of our foreign policy and our foreign policy values. We, by our nature, support multilateralism. We believe that Ireland's role involves taking our part in global organisations, such as the European Union and the United Nations, and playing an active role. That should include being part of the Antarctic Treaty System because the Antarctic is crucial to every nation in the world and to all lands from a climate change perspective, from a research perspective and from the perspective of understanding our planet.

I believe we should sign up. I believe we should go further than observer status. I favour joining the Arctic Council. I also believe we should join CERN. We should be engaged in any form of participation at a global level in any organisation that supports research that leads to a better understanding of our planet. Ireland's foreign policy, which has always been based on multilateralism, means that there is no reason we should not be at this table, not only for historical reasons but also in terms of what we should do there when we join the Antarctic Treaty System. It is not simply a case of signing up to a piece of paper.

We have an important role in protecting the fisheries and minerals and talking about ensuring we guard against climate change. There will be fears into the future about bioprospecting happening in the Antarctic. It is important that Ireland's voice, along with the voices of other countries, ensures the Antarctic remains as a pristine continent.

One of the problems I see with the Antarctic Treaty System is that essentially there has to be agreement by unanimity. We almost need to end that veto system. We have got to ensure that if the majority of nations on this planet want to stand up and prevent mining and bioprospecting and want to ensure the protection of the great White Continent, Ireland stands with those other nations to ensure that happens because it speaks to our values in terms of foreign policy. I encourage us to sign up as soon as possible and to resist any geopolitical pressures to look at mining, prospecting or changing the fisheries rules when there are challenges on precious resources in the rest of the planet.It ties into the important debate that we have about multilateralism as the core of our foreign policy. We had a good debate on China last week. I would link it to the debate here. In the last 48 hours, the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries, as part of strong values related to multilateralism and commitment to human rights, indicated that there would be a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. I would like the Minister to indicate, whether on the floor of this House or otherwise as soon as possible, that there will be a diplomatic boycott on Ireland's part and that he will encourage the European Union will take similar action. It would send a strong message that our foreign policy remains committed to human rights.

I commend my Green Party colleagues on this motion. It is important not just for the Antarctic, but it speaks to what Irish foreign policy is all about. Robert Emmet talked about Ireland taking its place among the nations of the world. We have done that. In many ways, the European Union was the agency that allowed us to be able to do that. We stepped out from Britain's shadow. We are punching above our weight. The Minister plays his part in that. Our role on the UN Security Council is crucial. We also have to do that in many other areas, whether climate change, human rights, or membership of multilateral organisations such as this, the Arctic Council, or CERN. We have to play our role.

I am happy that the Government is moving ahead with this. I look forward to hearing the Minister's answer. I hope I will also hear an answer about the Beijing Winter Olympics. This is about a statement of Irish foreign policy and I urge that we move ahead.