asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to give a definite delineation of our territorial seas with particular reference to Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Territorial Seas Delineation.
14.
The territorial seas are delineated in the Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 1959 and the Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 1959 (Straight Baselines) Order, 1959 as extending from baselines round the coast of the mainland and any island or low tide elevation for a distance of three nautical miles from the nearest point on the baseline. The baseline consists of the low-water mark and the straight baseline prescribed in the order referred to above.
Was I correct in hearing the Minister say "around the island"?
"... round the coast of the mainland and any island or low tide elevation", and any islands.
No doubt that includes Rathlin?
Rockall.
That is the position.
Since this confirms what we have always understood to be the case, that all the seas around all of our coasts, of all of Ireland, the 32 counties, and its islands, are our territorial waters, could the Minister make strenuous efforts to ensure that in Carlingford Lough and in Lough Foyle no citizens of this country, never mind the State, should be interfered with in any way by any outside power whatsoever?
The Deputy will be aware that there is, of course, another difference of opinion on this between ourselves and the British Government. The position I have stated is the position we have held since the establishment of the State. The British Government take a different position. It is not then a matter simply of a legal resolution of the problem, it is a political problem, part of the problem arising from Partition. Secondly, as a consequence of the second question, I have at all times made and will continue to make representations, contacts or protests, as the case might be, appropriate in respect of what we see as being an infringement of these rights in respect of our citizens.
Is there no forum, no court of hearing of any kind at which this matter could be resolved, if not satisfactorily, at least to some degree, because we claim the seas—and we are quite right to do so—while these other people who are really usurping the powers and rights of this part of this land are exercising the rights while we claim them? Is it not time that we did a little more than appearing, somewhat with an inferiority complex, to be almost begging these people to look after what is ours, not to interfere with those people who are ours, to get to hell out of both those loughs and stop interfering with and arresting our citizens?
The Deputy has made a long statement there——
Would the Minister let me finish? I could make a hell of a lot more but I want some answers. The Minister would not let me finish the question.
The implication that we have been doing nothing if it applies now let me say has applied for a considerable time. It would have applied equally when the Deputy concerned had responsibility for Agriculture and Fisheries in respect of which most——
Because I do not agree with them——
I cannot recall the Deputy at that time making any issue of this question.
Then we did not have any people arrested, put in Long Kesh out of Carlingford Lough. Neither were the fishermen of Lough Foyle being arrested by the British Government for fishing off the Derry coast.
Lough Foyle has not just surfaced in the last two years.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
How are we to have some semblance of sanity in regard to our standing in this country while we apologise for our existence? That is what we seem to be doing; an inferiority complex——
Question No. 15.
We cannot see ourselves.
I can assure the House that I have made much more contact and representations than the Deputy now on his feet ever made in respect of these issues.
What is the point when we are getting nowhere?
I presume that is why the Deputy said nothing during his time as Minister.
There is no point in being nice about it to people who are——
I presume that is why the Deputy said nothing.
——who are interfering with more of our people at present and who have been for a long time, but more recently and particularly——
Deputy Blaney must know that Question Time is not a time for shouting and making speeches.
I cannot be heard unless I shout and I cannot hear anybody up here because this thing does not work.
The Deputy can shout when he is in order but not when he is not.
Pardon, what did the Chair say?
The Deputy can shout if he is in order but he is not in order in what he is doing.
I will know that only after the Chair has given his verdict.
Is it in order that Deputy Blaney be allowed to monopolise Question Time?
There is no question of anybody monopolising Question Time.
Is it not a fact that when Deputy Blaney was a Minister there was internment in the Curragh?
Pardon?
Order, please.
I was a Minister when the Blueshirts were running around.
The Deputy was a Minister when there was internment in the Curragh——
(Interruptions.)
Might I ask the Minister——
The Deputy got up on the pretence of asking a question and he started an argument in the House. The Chair will not permit that.
(Interruptions.)
It is bias in its extremity. Deputy Blaney will never live that one down.
I have called Question No. 15.
I do not think I have much chance of talking about UNCTAD with this going on.
As long as Deputy Blaney had the comfort of a State car it did not matter about prisoners' rights.
Is it proper that people who are trying to elicit information from Ministers are being totally diverted by people like Deputy Harte butting in and asking for information on matters of no concern whatsoever?
Order. Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.