Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of Lough Foyle. The Leas-Chathaoirleach may know that last week in Britain, in response to a parliamentary question, the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, asserted that the whole of Lough Foyle is within the United Kingdom. That is an arrogant and provocative statement that the Irish Government has contested. We know that Lough Foyle has been disputed for many years. We also know that the Loughs Agency responsible for administering Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough under the Good Friday Agreement has repeatedly called for this dispute to be resolved.

What is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade going to do about this matter? A report in one of today's newspapers refers to a charter from 1662. That is the basis on which the British Government claims Lough Foyle. A lot has happened since 1662. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, should come into the House and reassure the communities around Lough Foyle that those waters will be shared to the benefit of all to ensure their fisheries and tourism potential is fully realised. I ask for a firm rebuttal of the comments of the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, and a firm statement that we are moving forward working together on this island. As for those who want to pander to the Brexiteers and those who want to refer to a charter from 1662 and to live in the past, that is their business. However, we need the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to assert Irish interests and make it clear that whatever they are doing about Brexit, they will not destroy the livelihood of fishermen and tourism interests in the north west of Ireland.