John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when Ireland will ratify the UN Global Oceans Treaty; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40779/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The UN Global Oceans Treaty is formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, or more commonly referred to as the BBNJ Agreement. The BBNJ Agreement, in broad terms, aims to close significant gaps in global ocean governance by providing a framework to enhance protection of the marine environment.

Ireland was actively involved in the negotiation of the BBNJ Agreement and was among the first countries to sign it, subject to ratification, on 20 September 2023. We are a strong supporter of the Agreement and are committed to ratifying and implementing it.

The BBNJ Agreement currently has 139 signatories and 51 ratifications. The Agreement will enter into force 120 days after the 60th ratification.

There is ongoing consideration of measures necessary to facilitate early ratification.