Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the agenda for the preparatory meeting for the UN open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea dealing with fisheries, sustainable development and marine debris on 16 March 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8573/05]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if an Irish delegation will raise the issue of longlines and sea turtles at the ICP preparatory meeting in order that it be discussed at the ICP in June 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8574/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.

The preparatory meeting to which the Deputy refers is an informal one, which is taking place in advance of the meeting of the informal consultative process, ICP, on oceans and the law of the sea in June 2005. I understand it has been convened by the co-chairs of the ICP with the purpose of consulting states on practical matters surrounding the June meeting, for example, the format of the discussions, and as such does not have a formal agenda. Substantive issues will be dealt with at the June meeting where discussions will be organised on the following areas: fisheries and their contribution to sustainable development; marine debris; and issues discussed at previous meetings of the ICP.

The Presidency, on behalf of the European Union, will make a number of statements on substantive matters at the June meeting and will actively engage in negotiations with other delegations to ensure a successful outcome to that meeting. The EU's position on all issues of substance arising at the meeting will be the subject of co-ordination among member states between now and June, as well as throughout the meeting itself. The Deputy will be aware that the European Community has exclusive competence in international negotiations for matters in the area of conservation and management of marine living resources and shares competence with member states in the area of the environment. The EU's position on matters arising in these areas at international conferences is therefore the culmination of consultations and co-ordination between the European Commission and member states, within the relevant working groups in Brussels — the external biodiversity working group, the law of the sea working group and the internal-external working group on fisheries policy.

The matter of longlines and their impact on sea turtle populations was discussed in detail at a recent meeting of the UN Committee on Fisheries, COFI, in Rome. I am pleased to report that agreement was reached on a range of measures to protect sea turtles, including a work programme to redesign long-lining fishing gear. Ireland strongly supported these measures.