asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there were any consultations or discussions in European Political Cooperation over the extension of the exclusive fisheries zone round the Falkland Islands.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Falkland Islands Fisheries Zone.
22.
The decision of the UK Government to establish a Falklands Islands Interim Conservation and Management Zone has not been discussed in the context of European Political Cooperation.
Does the Minister consider that there should have been consultations or does he consider the Falklands dispute falls outside the scope of European Political Cooperation?
Yes, it does fall outside the scope of European Political Cooperation.
Can the Minister tell us why Ireland in a recent vote in the United Nations decided to abstain on the motion before the Assembly while other members of the European Community voted in favour of having discussions on the matter?
We voted this year as we voted last year. After taking all the considerations of both sides into account we decided that the most suitable thing to do was to abstain in 1985 and we repeated that abstention in 1986.
Would the Minister agree that what we did last year may not even then have been the correct thing to do? There is no reason why we should have done so this year. Surely, the Minister will agree that when there is an effort being made to open discussions on the dispute between Argentina and Great Britain we should encourage those discussions?
I am not disputing that dialogue must be pursued. The suggestion that because we voted one way in 1985 we should not vote the same way in 1986 is silly. We took all those matters into consideration last year and again this year and decided that our vote this year should be the same as last year.
Can the Minister say what members of the European Community voted in favour and what members voted against dialogue?
I do not think I have that information.
Approximately half voted for dialogue. Great Britain was against it and we had to abstain. The Minister can send me the information but I am correct in what I have said.
I will send that information to the Deputy as I have not got it here. There were 47 abstentions, including Ireland and six other partners. Who the six are I do not know but I will let the Deputy know.