Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The voisinage agreement was agreed between Britain and Ireland in 1964, before we joined the European Union, to allow for fishing rights across the Irish Sea. That agreement fell down due to a court order a few years ago. The House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee reported recently that if something is not done about this by a deadline of the end of March next year, Irish fishing vessels will be prevented from going into British waters. That is a serious problem for the fishing community throughout the country, particularly for those on the coastline of the Irish Sea. We need negotiations. We know Brexit is imminent and that has its own problems but this is something that predates our entry into the European Union. I would like an update. Have our officials been engaging with the British Government and British officials in this regard? Has any progress been made? When will progress happen? We need a new agreement as quickly as possible.

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