Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of the separate statement issued pursuant to the EU Council of Ministers qualified majority vote to adopt a regulation on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco; and if he will make a statement on the reason Ireland voted for the regulation. [20862/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The statement Ireland made to the Council setting down its position on the Fisheries agreement in relation to the Western Sahara situation is as follows.

Ireland supports the conclusion of the Fisheries partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco on the basis that it does not prejudice the long-standing position of the EU on the status of the Western Sahara. The EU continues to support the efforts of the UN Secretary General to encourage a negotiated solution which will allow the people of the Western Sahara to exercise their right to self-determination.

Ireland emphasises the importance of the future dialogue within the EU-Morocco Joint Committee foreseen under this agreement. It is essential that the Joint Committee make use of all instruments under the Agreement to ensure that the Agreement is implemented to the benefit of all the people concerned and in accordance with the principles of international law.

Ireland has been a firm supporter of the right to self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara, and the Government remains firmly committed to this principle. The legal advice of the Council's legal service is that the agreement does not entail a de jure recognition of Morocco's legal rights in respect of the area. Therefore there is not a conflict between Ireland's position on Western Sahara and its support for the agreement.