Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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793. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the latest EU level discussions regarding fisheries in upcoming Brexit negotiations and the latest reports (details supplied) that the UK wants to replace relative stability with zonal attachment; and the position Ireland has taken on this at EU level. [9488/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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On Tuesday 26th May last, I participated in a video meeting with Chief Negotiator on the Task Force for the Negotiations with the United Kingdom, Mr Michael Barnier, and the EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius, in relation to fisheries negotiations with the UK.  Fisheries Ministers from Member States most impacted by the UK withdrawal from the EU were also in attendance, including Ministers from France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium.

At the meeting, Mr Barnier updated Member States on the state of play in the negotiations on a fisheries agreement with the UK after three rounds of discussions have been completed. The meeting focused on the EU negotiating mandate for these discussions which sets down very clearly the EU position to 'uphold existing reciprocal access conditions, quota shares and traditional activity of the Union fleet'.

I, and my European Ministerial colleagues, welcomed Mr Barnier’s strong commitment to the linkage between all the parts of these complex negotiations and, specifically, the link between the overall economic partnership and the conclusion of a fishing agreement.

I very much welcome this detailed briefing from Mr Barnier on the current state of play in the fisheries negotiations. The fourth round of negotiations commenced on 2 June and it was very useful to hear directly from Mr Barnier about the issues arising and the challenges involved.  

I would like to assure the Deputy that, at this meeting, I reiterated Ireland’s full commitment to the EU negotiating mandate and delivering an outcome that upholds our existing access and quota shares. That position was also supported by all other Ministers in attendance. The hard work done to date by Mr Barnier and his team gives confidence that Irish and EU fishing interests will continue to be robustly defended in the negotiations.