Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is no doubt aware of the recently published House of Lords analysis of Brexit. It has received a lot of attention here because of its call for the continuation of the current open land border between the UK and Ireland, the maintenance of the common travel area, the right of free movement within the UK for Irish and UK citizens and their right to reside and work in both countries.

However, in its hearings, the House of Lords also heard that Brexit is a big prize for the British fishing industry and will enable it to become a world leading seafood exporter like Norway. According to fishing industry leaders, withdrawal from the EU will enable Britain to regain control of its waters after decades of common grazing rights assigned to European neighbours. Mr. Bertie Armstrong said that the flaws in the EU fishing policy had their roots in the politics of joining the European Community in 1973. According to Mr. Armstrong, "Fishing was considered expendable and British waters were given to the EC as part of the accession negotiations. It was a deliberate act but an act of folly. Now we have the opportunity to right it."

Obviously, this could have implications for Ireland and while nobody wants to predict difficulties, we would be foolish not to recognise they may be lying ahead for us. What action has the Minister of State taken since the vote in June? Has he and have the officials from his Department met officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to discuss the implications of what I have just said?

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