John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Things have changed fundamentally since that agreement in 2014 because it was made on the basis of membership of the EU and commitments under the Common Fisheries Policy. The agreement was completely undermined by the British Government on account of Brexit and it is now completely null and void. The Irish Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs must now seek to revisit it and consider the best approach, including seeking to lodge a territorial claim to resolve this issue once and for all. While we stand here, Donegal fishermen are being put out of that area and there are British naval vessels in it. Fishermen are being locked out of that area. This comes on the back of a bad Brexit deal for Irish fishermen where up to 15% of their fishing quota is being cut. The obligation is now on the Irish Government not just to stand up for our sovereignty and our rights but to stand up for our fishermen as well. I urge the Minister to do that and I call on him to support our amendments. They are critical amendments. It is time to rectify a wrongdoing where the democratic mandate of this House was completely bypassed in the agreement signed up to by the then Minister, Eamon Gilmore. I ask the Minister to accept these amendments.

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