Dr. Cecil Beamish:

There was a proposal early on in the process but there was no support for it. In 2010, Ireland's response to the Commission Green Paper stated the following: "Ireland considers that further consideration should be given to an extension of the 6/12 mile limit to 10/20 miles whereby the access rules currently applicable to the 6 mile zone will be extended to 10 miles and the rules for 6-12 mile zone will be applicable in the 10-20 zone." This proposal did not gain purchase with anybody in the process. It was, however, the position set out by Ireland.