Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

As one who lives near Lough Foyle, I declare my interest in this serious issue. The Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission is charged with managing Lough Foyle. I have been informed by the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, that negotiations with the Crown Estate to buy a lease for the aquaculture licensing of the lough are at an advanced stage. Why are we negotiating with this body? I contest its claim in this matter.

In response to articles on the front page and inside pages of yesterday's edition of the Irish News, the Crown Estate indicated it would not make a claim of ownership until an international marine border was agreed by the British and Irish Governments. I ask for the current negotiations to be stopped. Difficulties in defining the seabed should first be resolved and ownership and veto rights on development in Lough Foyle handed over to the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, the cross-Border body charged with managing the lough. Contrary to its statement to the Irish News, the website of the Crown Estate features a claim of 200 nautical miles of seabed. Under the United Kingdom's 2004 Energy Act, it claims a right of veto over any developments on the seabed and foreshore. I challenge this claim.

Negotiations with a third party on this matter must cease. If the Crown Estate can prove its claim, we should buy it out. The relevant cross-Border body should be responsible for the development of Lough Foyle. We cannot develop the lough in a consistent and coherent manner if all developments are subject to threat of a third party veto. I am supported in this matter by members of the Northern Executive and local councils in the North. I hope we will be able to bring the issue to a speedy conclusion.