Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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288. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government 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. [48319/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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While my Department has had some discussion with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the implications of Ireland ratifying the Antarctic Treaty , a cost benefit analysis has not yet been undertaken by my Department on such ratification.

Nonetheless, I support the primary objective of the Antarctic Treaty which is to ensure, in the interests of all mankind, that Antarctica continues to be used for peaceful purposes and will not become the scene or subject of international discord. The Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) at this stage includes the original Treaty, the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Treaty.