asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will provide information additional to his reply of 26th June, 1973, regarding the action being taken by the Irish Geological Survey Group in their efforts to secure legislation regarding the sea bed in an international context.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sea Bed Legislation.
59.
Since the Deputy's previous question, officers of the Geological Survey attended a meeting in Geneva last August of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. As indicated in my previous reply, this committee was set up by the United Nations to carry out the preparatory work for the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea which is to be held in Caracas from June to August of this year. This conference will cover a wide range of subjects, including the exploration and development of seabed mineral resources and the delimitation of the area of national jurisdiction which come within my area of responsibility. Representatives of the Geological Survey will be included in the Irish delegation attending the conference.
I take it what the Minister is saying is that there is no information, additional to what was available on 26th June, available to us now?
The Minister indicated on that occasion that this was an ongoing preparation for the conference in Caracas in the summer. There have been constant meetings among the Departments that are concerned under the Department of Foreign Affairs. The officers of the Geological Survey attended those meetings and they will be going to Caracas as well.
I have tabled questions to several Ministers in an effort to get some information on what the Government attitude will be. I cannot seem to extract it. The public are entitled to know what our line of argument will be when this conference takes place.
When the present series of meetings are finished and when the attitude among all the Departments and all the information is assembled, then the Government will decide what their attitude will be in Caracas next month. The Deputy cannot extract something that is not finalised yet.
When the Minister and the other Ministers and Departments have finalised their attitude, will they inform Deputy Lemass of the policy they are going to adopt at this meeting?
I will convey what the Deputy says to the Minister for Industry and Commerce and ask him, if it is not a breach of confidentiality, if he would do this.