Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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254. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken by his Department on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48316/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The question of Ireland’s signature and ratification of the Antarctic Treaty and related agreements comprising the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) has been examined by Government Departments and Offices, including my own, in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Antarctic Treaty System comprises the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (“CCAMLR”), the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals 1972 (“CCAS”) and the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection 1991 (“the Protocol”). The Department of Foreign Affairs view is that preparation for signature and ratification by Ireland would impose substantial administrative burdens on several Government Departments.

Though no formal cost benefit analysis has been undertaken on the impact of adherence to the Antarctic Treaty, the associated administrative burden would be substantial with the process not providing any significant practical benefit. While the objectives and achievements of the ATS are of considerable importance and the commitment of the signatories is to be commended, Government Departments, including my own, have to concentrate their diminishing resources on their core business and areas of priority national interest and concern and are not in a position to assume any administrative burden associated with the ATS signature and ratification process and ensuing treaty obligations at the present time.