Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join other colleagues in congratulating Senator Buttimer on his good news and wish him the very best of luck.

I would like to follow on from Senator Butler's issue regarding Brexit, where we are going and how we will deal with these issues regarding agriculture and fisheries. I take into consideration the announcement on Sunday by the UK that it is pulling out of the 1964 London Fisheries Convention. That is a major issue for the Irish fishing industry and will be one of the real key battle lines regarding Brexit. How we deal with it will be a key issue for an industry that, as the Cathaoirleach knows more than anyone, feels very much on the periphery of Irish society itself. In how we deal with the fishing industry, the statement by the UK has been deeply unhelpful and unwelcome. I would like to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how we will move forward with the Brexit negotiations after this declaration. It would be important for the House to have a full debate on the statement by the UK and how we will progress the Brexit talks. It would be appropriate, before we adjourn, for the Minister to come to the House in the next few weeks to give a brief outline on how he proposes to deal with the Brexit talks and this core issue. There are communities throughout Ireland that are dependent on fishing. How we ensure they have access to the sea area between six and 12 nautical miles around the UK is important for them. This is a ticking time bomb in so many ways. If we can get the Minister to the House, we might get that bit of clarity that the people require.