Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he first heard the announcement by the British Government changing access to fishing in British waters for the first time since the 1964 treaty; if he or his officials have sought a meeting with his counterpart to outline the diplomatic efforts that will be made to protect the Irish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32339/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Having spent five years as the Minister responsible for fisheries and having chaired the EU Fisheries Council in 2013, I am acutely aware of the effort required at all times to protect the Irish fishing industry. The UK’s exit from the European Union and their recently-announced intention to depart from the 1964 London Convention both represent very significant challenges.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I am working in close partnership with my colleague Minister Michael Creed T.D.to highlight Ireland’s fishing sector in all contacts with EU institutions, EU member states and of course the UK itself, as well as devolved administrations within the UK. I have already done this on a number of occasions during my first weeks in this role, including in my meeting with David Davis MP, UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, when I met him in London last week. The government has also made sure to keep in close contact with fishing industry representatives on regular occasions since the UK referendum outcome in 2016.

Regarding the London Convention, it was widely recognised that the UK’s intention to depart from it, while unwelcome, was not unexpected. Their public announcement came in the form a press release (embargoed to 2 July) issued to media by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during the latter part of the afternoon of Friday 30 June. The same afternoon, as a courtesy the British Ambassador also notified an official of my Department of the planned announcement, and this was in turn notified to relevant Departments.