Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government recognises that protection of the ocean is a key issue for Ireland and for the international community. The ocean plays a vital role in stabilising our climate, and is itself burdened by the impact of climate change, plastic pollution and over-fishing placed.

The Department of Foreign Affairs provides support to a number of partners that aim to protect the global marine environment. For example, along with Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway, Ireland is a funding partner of the non-profit foundation Blue Action Fund. We have provided €3.25 million to date to this foundation which works with NGOs to establish and enhance Marine Protected Areas in the most sensitive coastal waters in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, benefiting over 225,000 people.

The Department is also responsible in Ireland for matters relating to the international law of the sea, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS. Recognising that respect for UNCLOS is an important component of a rules based international order, we support efforts to enhance international compliance with the Convention as well as efforts to enhance international ocean governance more generally.

Ireland played an active role in the recently concluded negotiations on a new international Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, BBNJ. The BBNJ Agreement is a landmark treaty that has the potential to significantly enhance international ocean governance and help achieve the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Considerable work will be required to meet the '30 by 30' target of protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030, and my Department is committed to supporting these important efforts, working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which is responsible for marine environment policy.

We also work with Department of Housing on other international marine processes, such as work conducted by the International Seabed Authority. In addition, we collaborate with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, which leads Ireland's delegation to negotiate an International Treaty to Eliminate Plastic Pollution.