The French tuna fishermen's organisation registered an application with the European Court of Justice in August, 1998 seeking annulment of Council Regulation 1239/98 which bans drift netting for tuna from 1 January, 2002.
The admissibility of the French case is being considered by the court. The judgment on admissibility is expected within the next two months. The Irish authorities and the Irish Tuna Association, as well as the French authorities, have made oral submissions to the court in sup port of the admissibility of the case. The Council of the European Union, supported by Spain and the Commission, sought that the action should be declared inadmissible.
If the French challenge is judged to be admissible the court will proceed to examine the merits of the case. Ireland has already submitted a comprehensive formal intervention to the court on the merits of the case, which has the full support of the Irish tuna fishing industry. I will monitor developments in the case very closely in consultation with the Attorney General.