asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, the Irish Government intend to make with regard to sovereignty at sea and the physical limits thereof at the forthcoming international conference on maritime law.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maritime Sovereignty.
111.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the Law of the Sea Conference. The substantive part of the conference is not due to begin until next May. It would not be opportune at this stage to make a formal statement on the Irish Government's attitude on particular issues. The matter is under active consideration.
Would the Minister consider consulting with the Prime Minister of Iceland whose attitude recently in asking the British Government to withdraw their warships from his fishing waters was so successful?
We can and do have consultations on these matters with particular states but the Icelandic dispute has not in fact been settled.
The Prime Minister told the British Government to withdraw their warships from his fishing waters and they did so.
The dispute has not, in fact, been settled. I am afraid that international law is more complicated than telling people to take their warships away. I wish it were as simple as that.
In view of the rather fluid state of the international law as to the rights of sovereignty in territorial waters, while I appreciate that the Minister cannot give us specific proposals, can I take it that he will be making proposals in the Irish interest at that convention in San Diego?
Certainly, and may I make it clear that we are taking this very seriously indeed. I regard this conference and its outcome as having potentially great significance for us. It is one of the matters we are taking particularly seriously in view of its long-term significance.
I take it that the Minister accepts that the present state of the international law on this matter is very fluid and any positive proposals we have to make could well be useful?
Yes, indeed. Fluid and extremely unsatisfactory.