David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on possible accession to the Antarctic Treaty in view of its potential to impact positively on national climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17737/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland holds the view that the management and use of Antarctica should be conducted in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation for the benefit of mankind as a whole.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is committed to collective climate action, including through our engagement in multilateral fora and as a focus of our international development programme. My Department recognises the value of the Antarctic Treaty System’s objective to provide comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and its dependents and associated eco-systems.

The question of Ireland’s ratification of the Antarctic Treaty and related agreements comprising the Antarctic Treaty System has been the subject of research in some detail by the Government and Offices concerned on a number of occasions.

While the objectives and achievements of the Antarctic Treaty System are of considerable importance and the commitment of the signatories is commendable, such research to date has found that the direct benefits to Ireland of ratification would be relatively minor.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to keep under review the question of engagement with the Antarctic Treaty System with a view to exploring a possible way forward.