asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the unsatisfactory conclusion of talks at the most recent session of the Law of the Sea Conference.
Written Answers. - Law of the Sea Conference.
61.
The Deputy is aware of the great importance which the Government attaches to the adoption of a universally acceptable convention on the law of the sea. It had been hoped following the substantial progress made at the Ninth Session of the Conference in August 1980 that the tenth session would see final agreement on the few remaining hardcore issues. I am naturally disappointed that the policy review undertaken by the new US administration, which involves a comprehensive re-assessment of the draft convention, meant that this was not possible.
High level representations in both Washington and Dublin have made clear to the US authorities our concern with the delay and in particular with the threat such a delay could pose for the prospects of overall agreement. I am hopeful that the US policy review will be speedily completed and that negotiations on the existing draft can be finalised without re-opening fundamental issues on which compromise has been reached after years of exhaustive and difficult negotiations during which concessions were made by all interested parties.