asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement regarding the action being taken by the Irish geological survey group in their efforts to develop legislation regarding the sea bed in an international context.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sea Bed Legislation.
38.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the recent report that representatives of the Geological Survey would attend the forthcoming meeting in Geneva of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction.
This committee was set up by the United Nations to carry out the preparatory work necessary for a UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, which is scheduled to take place in 1974. This conference will cover a wide range of subjects, involving the interests of a number of Departments including the exploration and development of seabed mineral resources and the de-limitation of the area of national jurisdiction, which are the concern of my Department. The Geneva meeting is one of a series of preparatory meetings and as these are preliminary discussions. I do not think it would be appropriate for me to make any further statement on the matter at this stage.