Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2018
51. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the agreement or guarantee reached with the EU 27 on 23 March 2018 in the overall context of the FTA; the way in which it is planned to guarantee same post the interim period after the conclusion of the negotiations (details supplied); when the interim arrangement expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17608/18]
View answerI very much welcome the adoption by the European Council on the 23rd of March of negotiation guidelines on the framework for the EU's future relationship with the UK.
In respect of fisheries, the guidelines explicitly state that “In the overall context of the FTA, existing reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources should be maintained;".
Ireland’s key priorities are to maintain the current access to fishing grounds in the UK zone in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and north of Donegal and the protection of Ireland’s existing quota shares. These priorities are fully reflected in the EU 27 guidelines and are also provided for in the transition arrangements as part of the Withdrawal Agreement.
With regard to the latter, for fisheries, the transition period will involve no change whatsoever to existing arrangements other than the fact that the UK will no longer be part of decision making bodies within the EU.
While I cannot guarantee what the final outcome of the overall negotiations will be, I can assure you of my ongoing close engagement with the Barnier Task Force, in tandem with the Tánaiste, as well as with other Member States and stakeholders, on the importance of fisheries in future overall relationship. I aim to ensure that fisheries remains inextricably linked to overall future relationship negotiations.
The progress achieved to date has been welcomed by the Irish fishing industry and the importance attached to the sector by this Government was clearly demonstrated last week with a meeting between industry representatives, An Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and myself.
