asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason, in view of the explicit exclusion of the area from Warrenpoint to Lough Swilly from the Bilateral Agreement concerning the Delimitation of Areas of the Continental Shelf between himself and his British counterpart in November 1988, the Crown Estates can derive revenues from a mariculture development (details supplied) offshore from Glenarm Bay, County Antrim.
Written Answers. - Continental Shelf.
28.
The Agreement on Delimitation of the Continental Shelf between Ireland and Britain, which was signed in Dublin on 7 November 1988 is not of relevance to the issue raised by the Deputy. This agreement concerns the division of the common continental shelf on which Ireland and Britain are situated. It does not affect the territorial seas. In addition the agreement specifically excludes from its ambit the maritime zones off the coast of Northern Ireland.
The issues which arise in regard to the exercise of legal jurisdiction in the territorial waters off Northern Ireland are something which fall to be settled in the framework of any overall political settlement of outstanding issues in relation to the future of Northern Ireland.
My Department have already been in correspondence with the Glenarm and Carnlough Fish Farm Action Committee on this matter.