Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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71. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans for Ireland to sign the Antarctic Treaty System; his further plans on becoming a signatory; and the timeline for such a process. [49592/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The question of Ireland’s ratification of the Antarctic Treaty and related agreements comprising the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) has been examined in some detail by the Government and Offices concerned.

Accession by Ireland to the ATS would require enactment of complex legislation and impose a substantial administrative burden on the Government Departments concerned for relatively minor benefits. The subsequent servicing of meetings and obligations under the ATS by this Department would unfortunately divert resources from areas of priority national interest.

There are therefore no plans, at this time, for Ireland to accede to the Antarctic Treaty.