ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES AND BENEFIT SHARING:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000053

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID SENV TBIO
SUBJECT: ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES AND BENEFIT SHARING:
IRELAND

REF: 04 STATE 269625


1. The information in paras below is based on Post's
discussion of reftel questions with Dr. Philip Buckley, the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) national focal point
for Ireland. Buckley has been the Director of the Heritage
Policy Division in the Department of Environment and Local
Government. This month, however, he will leave that post and
cede his responsibility as Ireland's CBD focal point to
Patrick Gernon in the National Parks and Wildlife Service
(e-mail: pgernon@duchas.ie; phone: 353-1-647-3000). Buckley
observed that, generally, Ireland's procedures for access to
genetic resources and benefit sharing are not well developed.
In most cases, approvals and permits are considered on a
case-by-case basis after researchers/importers/exporters have
personally corresponded with designated GOI
points-of-contact.

Legislation and Regulation for Biological Resources
-------------- --------------


2. In Ireland, there is no specific law pertaining to the
research and collection of biological resources. To obtain a
permit to collect biological specimens, a researcher must
contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS),a
national-level agency within the Department of the
Environment and Local Government (address: 7 Ely Place,
Dublin 2, Ireland; phone: 353-1-647-2300; e-mail:
natureconservation@environ.ie). NPWS will provide a form to
be filled out in connection with the inquirer's planned
research and will determine whether to issue a permit on the
basis of the information submitted. Terms and conditions
addressing the concept of mutually agreed terms are currently
not included in the research permit.

Movement of Biological Specimens
--------------


3. Permits are required to export and import species that
are listed as protected under Ireland's Wildlife Acts of 1976
and 2000. Export/import permits can be obtained from the
NPWS. (All bird species are protected.) If the species is
not protected, there are no conditions on export or import
other than the normal sanitary and phyto-sanitary
requirements. The Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF)
determines whether a sanitary/phytosanitary certificate is
required for the import of animals and plants. The DAF
point-of-contact is Tom Teehan (e-mail:
tom.teehan@agriculture.gov.ie; fax: 353-1-661-6263).
Prospective importers of plants must inform DAF as to the
variety of plant, the botanical name, the amount of plant
material to be imported, and the country of origin.

Mutually Agreed Terms and/or Use of Genetic Resources
-------------- --------------


4. There is no specific law relating to the negotiation of
mutually agreed terms to and/or use of genetic resources.
For wildlife, the responsible government agency is the NPWS.
For plant resources, the responsible agency is the National
Botanic Gardens (address: Glasnevin, Dublin 9; phone:
353-1-837-7596; e-mail: frontdesk@appletree.ie). For
agriculture and forestry, the responsible agency is the
Department of Agriculture and Food (Kildare Street, Dublin 2;
phone: 353-1-607-2000; website: www.irlgov.ie/daff). These
agencies focus primarily on conservation issues relating to
genetic resources as opposed to their use, and thus they do
not differentiate among uses for basic science, commercial
development, and agricultural research.

Status of MAT and PIC in Host Country
--------------


5. In 2002, the GOI announced a National Biodiversity Plan,
which included a commitment to prepare a national strategy on
access to, and sharing of, genetic resources, including the
development of MAT and PIC regulations and processes. Action
on this national strategy has not commenced, however, due in
part to uncertainty as to which Irish Cabinet Department
would play the lead role. Three Departments -- the
Department of the Environment and Local Government, the
Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, and the
Department of Agriculture and Food -- have stakes in the
national strategy, but have not finalized inter-agency
working arrangements. Moreover, the GOI has not identified
the national authority responsible for negotiating specific
contracts for providing access to genetic resources for
either research or commercialization of genetic resources.
Similarly, the GOI has not designated a national authority as
responsible for receiving financial benefits from ABS
contracts.

General Information
--------------

6. The GOI has not prepared a text of general information
for foreign researchers seeking to obtain
research/collection/import/export permits. There is likewise
no website dedicated to such information. Researchers
seeking this information are advised to e-mail or call the
points-of-contact cited above.
KENNY