Vol. 496 No. 5
56 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland has failed to ratify the Law of the Sea Convention to which this country became party on 21 July 1996; and when the necessary legislation will be introduced. [23269/98]
The Deputy is incorrect in thinking that Ireland has failed to ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Ireland is a party to the convention, which it ratified on 21 June 1996.
A considerable body of legislation is already in existence in relation to the rights, duties and obligations stemming from the Law of the Sea Convention. In particular, large areas of the Continental Shelf have been designated for oil and gas exploration purposes under the Maritime Jurisdiction Acts, a 12 mile territorial sea has been declared under those Acts, a 200 mile exclusive fisheries zone has been in place since 1 January 1977, and the Dumping at Sea Act, 1996, and the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Act, 1998, implemented provisions applicable to the 200 mile zone and the Continental Shelf.
