Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans he has to seek to be a signatory to the Antarctica Treaty 1959; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25020/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Antarctic Treaty opened for signature on 1 December, 1959 in Washington DC and came into force in 1961. The stated aim of the Treaty is to ensure "in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord."

In particular the Treaty sought to prohibit nuclear testing and radioactive waste disposal, and to promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica. It also provided that no new claims to territorial sovereignty or enlargement of standing claims would be made by States parties.

Today, the Antarctic Treaty system comprises the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection ('the Madrid Protocol'), the 1972 convention for the Conservation of the Antarctic Seals and the 1980 Convention on the Conservation of the Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

While the Treaty has been in operation since 1961, only 46, or fewer than one quarter of UN Member States, are States Parties.

Over the years, many of those who have chosen not to accede have argued that the Antarctic should be declared part of the common heritage of mankind and thus be treated in a manner comparable to Outer Space or the International Sea Bed Area and therefore beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. Some have called for a UN agreement to which all Member States would subscribe as the best means to ensure full accountability for actions undertaken in, affecting and concerning Antarctica. Ireland has traditionally been sympathetic to this view.

However, we are aware of the immense difficulties which would arise in seeking to negotiate a new Treaty. We have also noted that UN General Assembly Resolutions of 2002 and 2005 welcomed the practice whereby the Antarctic Treaty consultative parties regularly provide the UN Secretary General with information on their consultative meetings and their activities in Antarctica.

In all the circumstances, the Government intends to re-examine the issue, which is of relevance to a number of Government Departments. I have accordingly asked officials in my Department to study the issues involved in accession, with a view to initiating broader interdepartmental consultation on this question.