Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if this country plans to pursue legislation similar to that just passed in the United States of America which limits trade in conflict minerals, particularly those which fuel ongoing civil warfare and sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36117/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I presume that the legislation in the United States of America to which the Deputy refers is the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act which, I understand, is a federal statute that was signed into law by President Obama on July 21, 2010. While this act is mainly concerned with the financial regulatory reform agenda of the United States Government, I understand it also contains provisions related to trade in minerals originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo including what are termed conflict minerals.

In relation to Ireland, I can advise the Deputy that the European Community, representing all the Member States, is a participant in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which seeks to impose effective control by Member States over the trade in rough diamonds into and out of the EU, in order to prevent trade in conflict diamonds. Within the EU, that Scheme is implemented by Council Regulation (EC) 2368 of 20 December 2002 as amended. This Regulation relates specifically to trade in rough diamonds and is given effect to in Ireland by a Statutory Instrument made in December 2005 (S.I. 878 of 2005).

The Deputy will appreciate that this is an issue of international trade and proposals for any further regulation at EU level in this area will be considered by the Government in the normal way.