asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state what directions or guidance was given by the Government to Ireland's representatives to the conference at Geneva, which is to draft a treaty on the law of the sea.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Directions to Representatives at Geneva Conference.
Mr. Lynch
The conference to which the Deputy refers has been convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to examine the law of the sea, taking account of the legal, technical, biological, economic and political aspects of the problem, and to embody the results of its work in one or more international conventions. Any such convention would be open for signature and subsequent ratification by such States as decided to accept it.
It is not the practice to disclose the instructions given by the Government to delegations attending international conferences, and I do not propose to depart from that practice. The text of any convention emerging from the conference that is signed on behalf of this country will, however, be laid on the Table of the House before ratification.