Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, I have to be measured in what I say because there are diplomatic efforts under way to try to resolve this issue. The newspaper coverage to which the Deputy referred will show there are genuine efforts being made by the Irish Government to try to find a way forward on this. We want to try to resolve this. It is really important for Greencastle fishermen in particular, but also in terms of the squid fishery for fishermen from many different parts of the country. It is particularly challenging from the point of view of fishing haddock because much of the best haddock from that fishery is sometimes between six- and 12-mile zone, which, as things stand, our fishermen cannot access because the licences we have for entry into British waters restrict access to those 12 miles.

We will continue to work hard on this. I met with the Greencastle fishermen co-operative and the fishermen who are affected by this again recently to discuss it. We will continue to engage and try to find a way to restore what would have been a traditional fishing right there. There is no doubt that Brexit has made this much more challenging, but the work is continuing.

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