Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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290. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of negotiations with the British Government to reinstate access for the Irish fishing fleet to the 12-mile limit around Rockall. [7145/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to work to address issues related to Rockall, reflecting the longstanding fisheries tradition in the area.

I last discussed the matter with Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon in November. We agreed to continue to prioritise this matter and to continue to work together to seek to resolve outstanding issues.

Officials are also in active ongoing contact with their Scottish counterparts on possible ways forward.

I look forward to discussing the matter with my Scottish counterpart, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson in the near future.

Through these engagements, the Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting longstanding fisheries patterns in the area.

The Government's position in relation to territorial claims on Rockall is consistent with longstanding Irish Government policy.