Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I will not be found wanting in conveying the feelings of this House. We are united on this issue. We are not always united on issues here but we are very united on trying to find a resolution to this. I am conscious that it has to be done through the diplomatic channels. I am also conscious that there are significant legacy issues and that, notwithstanding the view of some in this House that the securing of access to UK waters for the next 12 years is positive, we still have to recognise the loss of quota and the negative impact of that on our sector. I am also conscious that, on the other side, the British fishing sector believes it has lost significantly as a result of reciprocal access. There appear to be two losers in this debate. I recognise the British Government's difficulties in that regard. However, recognising that does not and will not preclude me from fighting the case for Irish fishers who have lost very specific quota in the first instance, not to mention the squid fishery, which was a really important part of their economic activity at a particular time of the year but is no longer available to them. We have to do everything we can to try to address that.

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