Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 15 deals with the criminal and civil jurisdiction of the State with regard to the economic exploration and exploitation of non-living natural resources in the exclusive economic zone. Section 19 deals with the same matters on the continental shelf. Senator Higgins has proposed four amendments that seek to substitute the word "or" for "and".I am advised, however, that the term "economic exploration" is the term used in the convention. Insofar as it concerns exploration, this is limited to the exploration for the purposes of exploitation. Other types of exploration that do not have as their purpose economic exploitation, such as marine scientific research, for example, are not to be made criminal offences. I cannot therefore accept these amendments.