asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will take steps to have the fishing limit around the coasts extended to 12 miles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Extension of Fishing Limits.
9.
As I have stated on many occasions in reply to similar questions, the last occasion being the 5th of last month, the Government have constantly in mind the question of extending fishing limits by international agreement rather than by unilateral action. I regret that no international agreement, either world wide or regional, has so far been arrived at regarding this question since the failure of the Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1960.
We are still in touch with a number of Governments with a view to securing a regional agreement as the prospect of securing a world wide agreement seems at present rather remote.
Is the Minister aware that the greatest fishery in Western Europe now is off the southern coast of Ireland and that that fishery is being destroyed by an armada of fishing boats from various countries? Is he further aware that if steps are not taken now, that armada will over-fish the area and ruin the fishery? Will the Minister now say to the House that he will take steps to have the three mile limit extended to 12 miles around our coasts from the base line?
Will Deputy Lynch provide the Navy?
We will do it with helicopters now. I hope the Minister for External Affairs will deal with it in a better way than the Minister for Health dealt with the doctors, and I am sure he will.
We are constantly trying to get an extension by agreement.
Would the Minister say whether he is prepared to initiate the convening of a conference with such a view in mind, that is, to get an agreement established to provide for a limit greater than the three mile limit which exists at present?
I would prefer to do it in co-operation with a number of other countries.
That is all right, but if someone does not make a move to have a conference convened, or take the initiative in some way, agreement will never be reached.
There is no use in one moving if others do not accept the agreement when a conference takes place.
Would the Minister say who is responsible—or take on himself the responsibility—for convening such a conference?
They are subject to a special sort of general agreement among a number of countries.
Who calls the conferences?
The last one was called by the United Nations.
Can the Minister use his initiative to convene such a conference or have one convened?
I can use initiative and we use diplomatic contacts to see whether there is any chance of a majority of the countries within the region or a wider field coming together to discuss such a proposition sympathetically. Unfortunately, in 1960, we missed getting a majority by one vote but there is hope that that will change.
Is the Minister considering, ad interim, investigating the possibility of bilateral negotiations in view of the bilateral negotiations that have taken place and the bilateral agreements in existence between Great Britain and Iceland, and Great Britain and Norway? Would there be any room for successful negotiations in that direction as an interim arrangement, pending the universal agreement of which the Minister spoke?
The bilateral arrangement come to between the Icelanders and the British was after the Icelanders had taken unilateral action to extend, and the Deputy will remember the trouble there was about that. It would be very difficult, I think, to have bilateral arrangements to keep people out.
I recognise the difficulty. One can make a bilateral agreement with Great Britain, possibly, or some of the continental countries, such as Norway, which are sympathetic towards our extensions. On the other hand, we are conscious of the fact that Russian trawlers have now turned up and I think the Minister should appreciate that, with the incursion of growing numbers of trawlers on these fishing grounds on the south-east coast of this country, a more and more acute problem is arising. It is, I think, true to say that the herring fisheries of Holland precipitated three European wars in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries and I am sure we do not want to start another war on the south-east coast of Ireland.
The Deputy had better tell Deputy Lynch that.
The Minister ought to bear in mind the feeling that can be aroused, not only amongst Irish fishermen but fishermen everywhere, when they see foreign vessels coming in to sweep their own fishing grounds. It is very hard to get the fishermen to be patient.
I am very sympathetic and I am doing all that lies in me to get an effective agreement to extend our fishery limits but, in our circumstances, it is much better—indeed, it is essential — that we should get it by agreement ahead of doing it. I have heard—I cannot vouch for this because I have no technical knowledge—that it seems herring, like some other things, are better if they are reaped on occasion.
The Minister can take it from me there is no appreciation of the reaping that is going at the present time.
The Minister mentioned the question of a European regional conference. Could he tell the House if any discussions have taken place so far with other European countries through the medium of such a conference?
I understand that there have been meetings within the Six, or a meeting is being called.
The Minister has taken me up wrongly. The Minister mentioned in reply to a question raised by me some months ago that there was a European conference to take place in which Ireland would negotiate with other European powers.
It has not taken place.
(South Tipperary): Has the Minister at any time raised this matter internationally?
Yes. We were at an international conference, as a matter of fact, that lasted three months.
Is the Minister aware that this represents a greater asset than all the goldmines and coalmines into which we are pouring money? Would the Minister tell the House that he will take immediate steps to extend the limit?
That is the original question all over again, of course.
I have answered that question.
We will wait until Deputy Lynch becomes Minister for External Affairs.
If he were, he would not be afraid to take immediate steps.
The Deputy should not be extending the limits here.