Vol. 402 No. 3
34 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the widespread concern being expressed by fishery interests regarding submarine traffic in the Irish Sea, he has made any representations to the Governments of the United States and Great Britain regarding this serious situation.
The activities of nuclear submarines at sea are governed by international law. Submarines have the right of innocent passage without notification through territorial waters provided they travel on the surface and fly their flags. They may pass freely through international waters, whether on the surface or submerged.
While this is the position under international law, we believe that the matter cannot be left at that. We are very seriously concerned about the dangers that submarines pose to shipping and about the nuclear hazard in the event of an accident involving nuclear powered or armed submarines. We avail of every opportunity in international fora, such as the United Nations and the International Maritime Organisation, to focus attention on the general problem. In addition, we have raised specific incidents with the authorities of the countries concerned and will continue to do so as the need arises.
