Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the pragmatic approach he has taken. Lest one thinks that I am not representing Donegal and I am anxious to attract more vessels registered elsewhere to fish in the 0 to 6 nautical mile zone, a number of Donegal-owned vessels registered outside the Republic have traditionally fished in this zone. We often talk about the good relationship between the North and the South. It is important to roll back the clock to the early 1960s.

This is a result of a visit by former Taoiseach Seán Lemass when he met Captain Terence O'Neill who was the Prime Minister in the North at the time and they made this arrangement. Further to that, as the Minister stated, there was an exchange of letters culminating in this arrangement. The Minister has our full support on this side of the House with a view to ensuring the legislation, which is being prepared, comes to the House and is enacted.

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