Ireland (Continental Shelf) (Hansard, 5 May 1982)

§ 11. Dr. Edmund Marshall
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the meeting held during April with officials of the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the delimitation of the continental shelf between the United Kingdom and the Republic.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Malcolm Rifkind)
The meeting between officials which took place in London on 16 April made further encouraging progress towards agreeing the composition and terms of reference of the arbitration tribunal. Another meeting has been scheduled for June.

§ Dr. Marshall
As there have been at least nine such meetings since the beginning of 1980, cannot Ministers inject some urgency to produce an early and clear outcome to the talks so that, for instance, fishing vessels and submarines may know in whose territorial waters they are sailing?

§ Mr. Rifkind
The terms of reference and composition of the tribunal are complex matters, but we hope that the arbitration process will be signed during this year.

§ Sir Peter Emery
In considering the problem, will my hon. Friend draw to my right hon. Friend's attention the recorded broadcast of the Prime Minister of Eire on BBC television last night, which was massively unhelpful to Britain's position in solving the problem of aggression in the Falkland Islands and would be considered by some to be a stab in the back?

§ Mr. Rifkind
Those matters do not arise out of the question, but I am sure that my hon. Friend's views are shared by many hon. Members.

§ Mr. George Robertson
In discussing the continental shelf between Ireland and Great Britain, does the Minister feel that relations have been injured by the recent incident involving a submarine and a fishing boat? Why did the submarine not know that it was snagged in the nets of a fishing boat until the fishing boat had gone 11 miles backwards? Why did it take so long for the British Government to admit responsibility for the incident?

§ Mr. Rifkind
The incident to which the hon. Gentleman refers is a matter of concern. However, it is appropriate to address such questions to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.