David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Brexit was mentioned, but the question of the division of jurisdictions on Lough Foyle has been with us since partition. There was a political commitment in 2011 on the part of both Governments to resolve the jurisdictional issues at Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough. That commitment is being pursued in ongoing discussions and negotiations between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with political oversight and direction by the Minister and his counterpart, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Boris Johnson. This work will continue, with a particular focus on the objective of ensuring that the Loughs Agency can operate to its full potential as envisaged when it was established under the Good Friday Agreement. Therefore, the matter is not something that we currently envisage as forming part of the negotiations on the UK's departure from the EU.

The Government's approach has been clear, consistent and constructive. The UK Government's assertion that it has jurisdiction over the whole of Lough Foyle is rejected and has never been accepted by any Irish Government. To progress from this difference of view, the Government strongly remains committed to the agreement with the UK in 2011 on seeking to resolve all jurisdictional issues related to both loughs. This is where our focus will remain and the Government will seek practical solutions that can address licensing and other practical issues that arise and allow the Loughs Agency to work to its full potential, which is in the interests of everyone on the island.