John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on contacts with Scottish and UK authorities on reaching an agreement on issues relating to Rockall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66126/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The consistent position of successive Irish Governments is that Ireland does not recognise Britain’s claim of sovereignty over Rockall. Accordingly, Ireland does not accept that a 12 nautical mile (22km) territorial sea exists around Rockall.

We understand that the UK takes a different view.

Reaching an agreement on issues relating to Rockall continues to be important for the Government. Officials in my Department and in the Department for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, remain in contact with the relevant Scottish and UK authorities on this issue.

The matter has been raised with the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, and the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson, with agreement that we would continue to work together to seek to seek a resolution.

The Government is seeking to address the issues involved through this engagement, reflecting long-standing fisheries patterns in the area. We hope that a resolution - which is in all of our mutual interests - can be found to the issues involved.