Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The difficulty is that due to our failure to confront the British Government, its statement on withdrawing from the London Fisheries Convention means, in practice, that it is claiming the fishing rights of Lough Foyle. We must have urgent clarification from the Minister that the Irish Government will defend the rights of fishermen living on the Inishowen Peninsula to continue their livelihoods. A clear statement must be made that their livelihoods will be protected. I seek urgent clarification on this issue and on whether the Minister has made contact with his counterpart in the British Government to deal with it. I ask the Acting Leader to invite the Minister to the House at the earliest opportunity to make a statement to clarify, first, our position in respect of the London Fisheries Convention and how we intend to engage with the British Government on it and, second, the status of Lough Foyle and what the Government is doing to challenge the British Government on its arrogance in this matter.