Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2017
366. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government is maintaining its assertion of ownership to Lough Foyle; the recent engagements he has had with Britain and Northern Ireland on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34277/17]
View answerThe UK government assertion of jurisdiction over the whole of Lough Foyle has never been accepted by Ireland and this position remains unchanged.
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 resolve 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 Foreign and Commonwealth Office and my own Department, the most recent of which was in February this year. The issues involved are complex and involve a range of different actors, including the Crown Estates, but I am satisfied that progress is being made and that all sides are committed to reaching a positive resolution as soon as possible.
