Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has never made any claims to, nor has Ireland ever recognised UK sovereignty claims over, Rockall. Accordingly, it has not recognised a 12 nautical mile territorial sea around it. This remains the position of the Government.

The Government has been in contact with the relevant Scottish and UK authorities on Rockall over recent years and intensively since the beginning of 2021. Through this engagement, the Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting the long-standing fishery patterns in the area.

Irish vessels have traditionally fished for haddock, which is subject to a quota limit, and squid, which, as the Deputy will be aware, is not subject to a quota limit, in the waters around Rockall. Haddock may be caught within and outside 12 nautical miles of Rockall, but squid is caught within six nautical miles of it. Other stocks caught in the waters around Rockall, within the 12-mile area and outside, are monk and megrim. The squid fishery around Rockall is known to be sporadic and varies from year to year. This is consistent with squid's short lifespan and erratic recruitment dynamics.

Approximately 25 Irish vessels have fished in the waters around Rockall during the spring and summer months in recent years. Under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, EU vessels must be licensed by the UK authorities. Since 1 January 2021, the licences issued by the UK to EU vessels, where granted, expressly preclude access to the 12 nautical mile zone around Rockall.

The Government is committed to finding a way forward on this issue that will support the important commercial fisheries around Rockall. We will continue to work closely with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, over the coming period to address the issues involved. To this end, Irish officials are in active ongoing contact with their Scottish counterparts on possible ways forward.

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