Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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384. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts that are being made to ensure that measures announced by France in retaliation against the UK over the fisheries dispute will not impact the use of the landbridge for hauliers coming to and from Ireland to the mainland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54520/21]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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389. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts that are being made to ensure that the measures announced by France in retaliation against the UK in relation to the fisheries dispute will not impact the use of the landbridge for hauliers coming to and from Ireland to the mainland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54646/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 389 together.

I understand that discussions are continuing between the UK, France and the European Commission on the question of the implementation of the terms of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) on the licensing of vessels fishing in traditional waters in the UK.

It is vital that all provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement are properly implemented by the UK, and the TCA is clear on this matter: vessels should continue to have access to waters that they have traditionally fished. We support all efforts to resolve this issue quickly through constructive engagement, to protect impacted communities and to ensure full and proper implementation of the TCA.

We remain in close contact at Ministerial and official level with the French Government. Minister McConalogue and Minister of State Byrne have engaged with their counterparts on this specific matter in recent days, including with regard to the impact any retaliatory measures will have on Irish operators.