Finian McGrath
Question:198 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the ownership of Rockall Island off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7283/04]
View answerWednesday, 3 March 2004
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Written answers
Concern in regard to the issue of Rockall arose in the past from then unresolved fears that jurisdiction over Rockall and similar rocks and Skerries was thought to be central to the mineral rights in the adjacent sea bed and to fishing rights in the surrounding seas. However, during the course of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, the Irish delegation worked hard to establish a satisfactory legal regime applicable to islands. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which was adopted at Montego Bay at the conclusion of the conference on 10 December 1982, provides at Article 121 paragraph 3 that, "Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf".
Article 121(3) applies to Rockall. Ireland ratified the convention on 21 June 1996. The United Kingdom acceded to the convention on 25 July 1997. It is accordingly accepted by both States that Rockall cannot be used as a basis for delimiting their respective continental shelves or fisheries zones. While the United Kingdom continues to claim jurisdiction over Rockall, this claim is not accepted by Ireland. Each country remains aware of the position of the other.