asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange to have the IFO attend as observers at the next session of the Law of the Sea Conference.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Law of the Sea Conference.
19.
There is no provision in the rules of procedure of the conference for observers as members of negotiating delegations.
Officials of my Department and of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have met representatives of fishermen's organisations in connection with the conference and are prepared to have further meetings with them if these are requested. The views expressed on behalf of fishermen at these meetings and otherwise are taken into account in the formulation of the policy pursued by the Irish delegation at the conference.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that their counterparts in Britain have representatives at meetings of the Law of the Sea Conference and the Irish Fishermen's Organisation, which represents all fishing interests, have expressed a wish to be represented?
No, I am not so aware. I have notes about three other countries but not about the British. I do not know what they are doing about representation. The rules of procedure of the conference provide for observers from a certain range of bodies, for example, the United Nations Council for Namibia, national liberation movements, inter-governmental organisations, and so on, but not for the vocational groups such as the IFO. I should emphasise that the Conference on the Law of the Sea is not solely concerned with fishery rights; it is only a minor part of their work.