Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The 2015 White Paper highlights the perils of being an island. There are many risks and threats listed in the EU maritime security strategy that are relevant to Ireland's maritime domain, including threats to Ireland's economic resources arising from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing or other illegal exploitation of our maritime resources. This has the potential to deplete our fish stocks and destroy maritime habitats. We know that we already have certain difficulties in our waters, including overfishing and illegal fishing. It is understandable that some UK citizens and parliamentarians would view Brexit as a positive development for their fishing industry. We need to get to grips with this and get ahead of the curve because while we might be eyeing the UK's commercial banking industry, they are very much eyeing the fishing industry.

There are many concerns that in post-Brexit Britain there will be a bonfire of regulations. Indeed, members of the Brexit committee in the House of Commons have called on businesses to submit their wish lists. We must be concerned about this.

Does the Minister of State accept that there is a need to protect our fish stocks and maritime habitats and that the Naval Service must beef up its preparations ahead of Brexit?

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