Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is an important issue. In so many ways it is a doomsday scenario. It is important to clarify the position before we get into the meat of the issue. On the tie-up measures that will be required in terms of the timeframe requested in the event that there is a hard Brexit, do we know how much of the fleet will be impacted, taking into consideration lack of access, particularly in the mackerel sector? That sector will be okay in 2019, but access to UK waters, given that so much of the product is landed in the United Kingdom, will be an issue in 2020. How will these waters be policed in a hard Brexit scenario? As a nation, how would we police them? Having viewed the proposed border on the map, it appears to be extensive. We have a limited naval service. Would we have the capability to man that border to ensure we would not be faced with issues such as vessels from third countries fishing in our waters?

On the arrangements between the United Kingdom and Ireland, with reference to recommendation No. 2 in respect of the proposed reciprocal arrangements, there are no arrangements proposed with regard to the six-mile limit about which we spoke previously. I recall there was a debate in the Seanad on this recommendation which would have ensured this issue would be resolved. Does Dr. Beamish have recommendations or an insight in that regard?