Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Had Deputy Collins been listening to what I said at the outset, he would have heard how I laid out the negotiations in relation to an engagement with the Commission on Iceland. I, as the Minister representing Ireland, has been the one who has been taking a very hard line and refusing to agree to any mandate for negotiations or for conducting an agreement with Iceland. As a result of that there has not been one. I have laid all this out. The Deputy obviously has not been listening to me. I often hear of Ministers being accused of coming into the Chamber and reading out what was given to them but it seems to be a different story for those in opposition in terms of listening to what was said.

I have taken a clear line in terms of these negotiations and continue to do so in respect of the fact that our waters are being discussed in an EU context. I am working to ensure that in terms of the outcome of that, our waters are respected and that any access that happens would be to the benefit of the Irish fleet.

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