IRISH RESPONSE TO MERCURY DEMARCHE

1. On February 9, Post discussed reftel talking points with
Riona Ni Fhlanghaile, Principal Officer in the International
Environment Awareness Office of the Department of the
Environment and Local Government. (Fhlanghaile will
represent the GOI at the February 11 EU preparatory meeting
for the February 21-25 UNEP Governing Council (GC) Meeting in
Nairobi.) Fhlanghaile noted that Ireland was not a
significant producer of mercury and would not send a
representative to the Nairobi UNEP GC meeting. Moreover,
Ireland would not formally state a position at the February
11 EU meeting on the proposal favored by several Northern
European countries for the CG to initiate negotiations on a
legally binding agreement on mercury and other heavy metals.
Ireland was disinclined nevertheless to support the proposal,
on the presumption that an agreement would take several years
to negotiate, let alone implement. Fhlanghaile observed that
the GOI supported exploring alternative, more feasible
mechanisms to achieve the same objectives, such as the
partnership approach advocated by the USG or the
incorporation of mercury-related objectives into pre-existing
international instruments. She pointed out, however, that
Ireland would not seek to block any majority EU view that
might emerge from the February 11 meeting.
KENNY