Vol. 516 No. 4
37 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the position in relation to violent acts by foreign vessels against Irish fishing boats outside the 12 mile limit and inside the 200 mile exclusive fisheries zone; if there have been many incidents in recent years; if there is power of arrest in relation to these incidents; and the further legislation, if any, proposed in this regard. [8181/00]
39 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to comments made by a Cork solicitor (details supplied), who recently took legal action on behalf of an Irish trawler against a French vessel arising from a suspected case of piracy, criticising the Government for being too afraid of the EU to implement the UN Law of the Sea Convention; whether there are adequate powers available to the Irish authorities in respect of these incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8199/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 39 together.
While I have seen the reported comments and while I understand how they might come to be made, there is no basis whatsoever for the suggestions that there is any reluctance on behalf of the State to avail to the maximum extent possible of whatever scope may exist under international law to deal with incidents against Irish vessels on the high seas which may amount to piracy as defined under international law. As explained earlier in answer to a priority question, examination of these matters is being carried out as a matter of urgency by my Department in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
It would not be in the public interest to publish the legal advices received as they relate to matters of interpretation of international law which could subsequently become the subject of dispute between Ireland and other countries at international level.
