Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The vista presented by the witnesses is very stark and the stakes are very high for our fishing industry arising from Brexit. Mr. O'Donoghue stressed the key importance of keeping the issue of trade tied to water access and fish access. I assume that we are trying avoid a case where, with a very hard Brexit, Britain could put up the barriers and take the water entirely for itself. How much would that be worth to Britain in fish values, allowing for the fact that it would be blocked from other European waters in which it can currently fish? How does that compare to the impact of trade barriers and tariffs? How do British fishermen view Brexit? How do fishing organisations in the UK see this and what kind of a deal do they want to drive forward? What mood are they in to negotiate? It is particularly complicated because if access to British waters is reduced we will be in conflict with our European neighbours over the supply of fish. There is always competition but are they our allies to any extent? Are they thinking in the same way as Ireland as they go into these negotiations? Are we at one as regards the possible outcomes?

In the event of there being reduced access there will be competition. What are the witnesses' perspectives on where other European countries are positioned as we enter the negotiations?