asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the precise proposals he intends to present to the International Law of the Sea Conference on (a) fishery limits (b) rights of exploration of the sea-bed (c) environmental control and (d) the determination of disputes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Law of the Sea Conference.
18.
The Government have recently finalised the general policy to be followed by the delegation at the Law of the Sea Conference. The issues arising are numerous and diverse—many of them are interdependent. In our view, it is not advisable for us to make precise proposals on the matters mentioned in the Deputy's question at this stage in the conference. The Attorney General is attending as the special representative of the Irish Government and he will outline the Government's general policy when he addresses the conference on Thursday. Copies of his speech will be placed in the Library of the House.
Is the Minister aware that in November last he gave me, more or less, the same reply? At that stage he informed me that the Government were not in a position to state what their proposals would be at this conference. Is the Minister telling the House that he will not be, at any time, in a position publicly to disclose what their proposals will be to this conference?
There is a distinction in our general approach to these problems being outlined in the Attorney General's speech and our attitude to a particular matter which could be influenced by the strength of the view held by a number of delegations, by the support given to these views, by the inter-dependence of different issues on which there could be bargaining, setting one item against the other, and a number of factors like that. At this stage of the conference, when delegations are stating their general positions, it would not be regarded as appropriate for us to take up definite positions on specific issues until we feel the strength of views held by other delegations, assess the strength of our position where we might make the most progress or where we might find ourselves completely isolated. It is a tactical question at this stage of the proceedings but the Deputy, when he has read the Attorney General's speech, may wish to come back on a particular issue. In the light of that it is possible that I may be able to help him further.
Is the Minister saying that to a certain extent this is preliminary sparring until such time as we can decide which proposals we will support? I take it that if I put a question down after the Attorney General's speech has been published the Minister will be in a position to give me more details?
I may be, but it would depend on the particular question on a particular issue. I will certainly try to do so but it may be some time before we can finalise our position and, indeed, on some issues it will only be in the course of negotiations at the second stage of the conference in Vienna that we will be clear as to the best position for us to take in the national interest. There are certain points on which our position will emerge and where we will be quite clear on our position relatively early.
The Minister will appreciate that the public are concerned to know what position our Government will take as soon as our Government feel they can usefully say so. I should like to ask the Minister if at that stage he, or some agency of Government, will indicate publicly what positions we are taking up.
It is desirable that in so far as we are in the position of advantage to our country to take up positions that these should be known publicly as soon as possible. When the Attorney General's speech is published the Deputy may wish to come back on particular points and I will endeavour to give him as much information as I can in the national interest on that point.