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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 3

Written Answers. - Rockall Island.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

14 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present position in relation to the status of the island of Rockall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22355/00]

The issue of Rockall has in the past been a source of some public legal and political controversy in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Much of that controversy was due to unresolved fears regarding the division as between the two countries in the maritime area around that rock or skerry. In particular, jurisdiction over Rockall was thought to be central to the mineral rights in the adjacent seabed, as well as to national fishing rights in the surrounding seas.

However, during the course of the Third United Nations Law of the Sea Conference, which culminated with the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at Montego Bay on 10 December 1982, this position, in no small part due to the efforts of the Irish delegation, was clarified. Article 121(3) of the Convention provides that: "Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf."

Rockall is covered by this provision. Ireland ratified the convention on 21 July 1996 and the UK ratified it on 25 July 1997. Accordingly, both countries accept that Rockall cannot be used as a basis for delimiting their respective continental shelves or fisheries zones.

The United Kingdom continues to claim jurisdiction over Rockall, but this claim is not accepted by Ireland. Each country remains aware of the continuing position of the other.

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