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Dáil Éireann - Volume 268 - 01 November, 1973 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rockall Island. Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy 109. Mr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he accepts the British Government's claim to jurisdiction over the island of Rockall. Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: No. Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy: Does the Minister propose to have this matter negotiated at the forthcoming conference on maritime law or any other level? Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: I doubt if it would be appropriate to negotiate individual claims at such a conference. The fact is that we are not really concerned with British claims to Rockall itself which is merely an uninhabited rock in the Atlantic—an uninhabitable rock —but we are adamant in resisting any British claim to exercise jurisdiction over the adjoining seas and have made our views known on that matter. Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy 1199 Mr. O'Kennedy: In view of the fact that the seas surrounding Rockall are now expected to be the source of exceptionally rich oil deposits will the Minister not accept that there is a very definite difference between territorial waters over which one has sovereignty and territorial waters as defined in the Geneva Convention? In other words, if one can claim sovereignty [1199] over Rockall, one has a stronger right to exploration of the natural resources immediately adjoining it than one would have under the existing Geneva Convention. Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: In the circumstances of this rock I do not accept that it gives any greater claim on the part of Britain. On reflection, the Deputy may not wish to press that argument. Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy: If territorial seas are subject to sovereignty which would be the case here if Rockall was within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, the interest in respect of it would be very much different from what it would be if it was not the subject of sovereignty and merely within territorial waters. Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: I do not accept that point and I would refer the Deputy back to my original negative reply to his question. Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy: In not accepting it, I hope the Minister is right. Might I ask him to ensure that any deposits that may be found there will not accrue as of right, so far as we are concerned, to the United Kingdom? Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: I have said that we are adamant in resisting any British claim to exercise jurisdiction over the adjoining seas and have made our views known on that to the British Government. Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy: Will the Minister go further and ensure that our interests will be protected? Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Is this island closer to Ireland than it is to Scotland, for example? Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: I think in terms of geographical distance it is closer to the mainland of Ireland than to the mainland of Scotland, but closer to islands off the coast of Scotland than to islands off the coast of Ireland. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Does the Minister appreciate that apart from the fishing rights which may be involved here, very important mineral rights may be involved. Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald 1200 Dr. FitzGerald: I fully appreciate this and have appreciated it for a very [1200] long time. I do not think it is to our advantage to pursue it along these lines any further here. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Will the Minister pursue it in the appropriate place? Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: I have told the Deputy that I have already done so. Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy Mr. O'Kennedy: Will the Minister keep us informed, in confidence or otherwise? Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: Certainly. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Could you land a helicopter on it? Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: I believe somebody once did. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: We seem to have them to spare nowadays. Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald Dr. FitzGerald: They can land in unusual places apparently. Dáil Éireann 268 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Rockall Island. Questions 19731101
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