Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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71. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the status of his negotiations with the British Government on an agreement that would resolve the long-standing jurisdictional dispute over Lough Foyle and allow for the licensing and regulation of those operators who have overseen the proliferation of oyster trestles on the western shore of the lough. [44174/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following discussions in 2011 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British Foreign Secretary, the British and Irish Governments agreed to seek to address and resolve the jurisdictional issues relating to both Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough.

Since that time, a series of meetings have taken place at official level between the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

My Department has also consulted with other relevant Departments on specific issues and concerns relating to Lough Foyle. This includes the licensing of aquaculture in the Lough.

The issues involved in these discussions are complex and involve a range of different stakeholders and actors in both the UK and Ireland. Nevertheless, the Government remains committed to resolving the jurisdictional issues related to the Lough.