President Michael D Higgins has welcomed a landmark United Nations agreement on global ocean conservation which was concluded in New York last night.
The President described the treaty as a gain for the future of humanity.
It will seek to safeguard 30% of the high seas by the end of the decade.
In a statement, President Higgins said it comes "at a time when we are receiving the direst warnings as a result of the accelerated melting of the ice caps" and so it is particularly timely.
He added that all those interested in the future of the planet will be grateful for those who have worked over many years to bring us to this point.
Mr Higgins said it is essential that attention now "swiftly moves to formal adoption of the text, to ratification and to implementation."
Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on agreement of UN High Seas Treaty https://t.co/Ys2CrqERex
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) March 5, 2023
Meanwhile, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the agreement provided mechanisms to significantly improve the protection of the marine environment.
He said Ireland was committed to working with the international community to realise its full potential.
Mr Martin said the agreement is "a major step forward for ocean conservation."
'Historic' deal at UN to protect high seas
The European Commission also hailed the international treaty.
"A historic moment for our ocean... We take a crucial step forward to preserve the marine life and biodiversity that are essential for us and the generations to come," said EU environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius.
"Today marks the culmination of more than a decade of preparatory work and international negotiations in which the EU played a key role," he added, saying he was "very proud of our outcome".
The high seas are a fragile and vital treasure that covers nearly half the planet, and the treaty is seen as essential to conserving 30% of the world's land and ocean by 2030.
That objective was agreed by world governments in a historic accord signed in Montreal in December.
Jessica Panegyres of Greenpeace welcomed the deal but called for urgent ratification of the treaty.
