asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent of the economic zone that the Irish delegation at the resumed Law of the Sea Conference will be seeking; and the extent of territorial waters being sought.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Law of the Sea Conference.
9.
The draft Convention on the Law of the Sea establishes the right of all coastal states to an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Within this zone the coastal state has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the sea-bed and subsoil and the adjacent waters.
The Draft Convention furthermore provides for the right of every state to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles measured from the baselines determined in accordance with the Draft Convention. During the negotiations on these issues Ireland supported the provisions on the exclusive economic zone and the territorial sea and the terms of the existing Draft Convention are satisfactory from an Irish point of view.
The draft text represents the consensus views of the participating states, arrived at after years of exhaustive and difficult negotiations, and I am hopeful that the 11th Session of the Conference which commenced on 8 March, will see the completion of negotiations on outstanding issues and the adoption of a final text by the Conference.
When is this final session of the Law of the Sea Conference expected to end?
They are sitting at present. I gather there are a number of problems on which they have to make decisions and I cannot say when it it is likely to finish.
This is a very serious matter which will determine our jurisdiction over the seas around our coast until the end of time. Should the draft agreement not have come before this House for discussion by the Members of this House?
The draft agreement will come before this House for discussion. That assurance has already been given by my predecessor to Deputy Deasy when he had a question on this matter on the Order Paper last May.
From what the Minister has said I am beginning to understand that the present session may bring matters to finality.
I should remind the Deputy that this House will be given an opportunity to debate the terms of the convention before it is ratified. It must come to the House.
The Minister has given us what appears an optimistic reply in regard to the present session. Is it not true that there are difficulties because of a change in direction by the US?
I have said there are problems which came about because of a change of administration in the US, but it is hoped that these problems will be overcome shortly.
During the US visit did the Minister take the opportunity to express concern in relation to the change of attitude by the US, and if so can he outline the response of the US authorities?
The Deputy will appreciate that is a question that should have been addressed to the Taoiseach.
We have agreed to 200 miles but have the US and the USSR done so?
I understand they will, but I want to check it. I will let the Deputy know.
Is it not the Department of Foreign Affairs who are responsible in this matter and not the Taoiseach? Did the Taoiseach make such representations?
There was not an opportunity for the Taoiseach to do so during his visit.