Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The position is clear. Mr. Barnier reiterated in advance of the most recent negotiations that he has a clear mandate from the 27 member states that fisheries cannot be separated from the overall negotiations and an overall agreement cannot be reached without an agreement on fisheries. That position was made clear by Mr. Barnier and the 27 ministers who represent the industry.

On the Deputy's question about backsliding on behalf of the EU, I can absolutely assure him and other Deputies that the EU is foursquare behind the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol. I have spoken to 18 or 19 of my European colleagues individually in the past two weeks and they are fully aware that the Northern Ireland protocol must be implemented in full, that it cannot be amended or changed and any attempt to do so would not be accepted by them or us. It is important not to stray from the fact that the UK has said consistently that it wants to implement the protocol and its commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and what it has agreed to is there. We obviously need the UK to bring forward the information and data that will allow it to fulfil that commitment.

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