Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are all aware of the challenges facing the sector, as Deputy Collins outlined, especially in the wake of Brexit. There is an opportunity for a bit of a reprieve for the sector if we can address the issue of Rockall island and the being able to fish the grounds around there. I Googled it and the first line that comes up is that "Rockall island is an uninhabited island". If one can establish that an island is uninhabited or uninhabitable, then the 12 nautical mile exclusion zone should not apply. Rockall is very important for many Irish boats for some non-quota species. I would like to see this issue revisited. Whatever about who claims sovereignty over Rockall, the fact that it is uninhabited means the 12 nautical mile exclusion zone should not apply. Therefore, those boats that traditionally went to fish there should be allowed to fish there again.