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

This is a matter that involves more than the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Department of Foreign Affairs has a key role to play.

I will outline some of the interventions made by Government in recent times. As Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Martin, last discussed the matter of Rockall with Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at the end of last year. It was agreed to prioritise this matter and continue to work together to seek to resolve the outstanding issues.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney met his Scottish counterpart, the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson, to discuss the issue. They agreed to continue to prioritise this matter and work together to seek to resolve outstanding issues. Working together with the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are active discussions between the Irish and Scottish side exploring all options. Further discussions at political and official level are planned over the coming period.

Through these engagements, the Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting long-standing fishery patterns in the area. The Government's position regarding the territorial claims on Rockall is consistent with long-standing Government policy.

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