Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The announcement by the UK that it is withdrawing from the London Fisheries Convention is very unwelcome. It is important to note that this forms part of the UK's approach and negotiating position to broader Brexit negotiations. The announcement will have no immediate affect, as the withdrawal process for the convention takes at least two years.

As the Deputy will be aware, 35% of the fish that we land is taken from UK waters, including very valuable fish such as mackerel and prawn. I was interested to learn in my study of this issue that we take so much of our fish from UK waters. We hear often about the amount of fish that is taken from our waters by others but, as I said, 35% of the fish we land, is taken from British waters. As noted yesterday by Michel Barnier, the UK decision to withdraw from the convention does not trigger any immediate change. He is now focused on prioritising the fisheries interests of the EU 27. The threats posed by Brexit to the Irish fishing industry were discussed as recently as last Thursday at a session hosted by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, with the industry at Seafest in Galway. This dialogue with the industry will continue as the situation evolves.

The Minister, Deputy Creed, and his Department have been working closely with their counterparts in other EU member states that have a particular interest in the north west waters. A unified front on these matters and a united negotiating position by all of these countries is what is best for Ireland and the EU. The Minister, Deputy Creed, will also be speaking to the UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Gove, MP, this week regarding this matter and other priority issues in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. If there is additional quota, we will strive to ensure that Ireland gets a fair share of it, bearing in mind sustainability. Fisheries stocks all around the world, particularly around Europe, have been horrendously depleted in the last number of decades due to over-fishing. It is not in any of our interests in the long term that that should continue, for all the obvious reasons.

In terms of mackerel, the mackerel review is ongoing. No decision has yet been taken on it but once a decision is taken the Minister, Deputy Creed, will make an announcement. The Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food is the Minister with responsibility for the marine and he as at the Cabinet table.

See this speech in context