Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine, Pat the Cope Gallagher, says it is vital the interests of the Irish fisheries sector and Irish fishermen are now central to future trade negotiations between the UK and EU in the coming months.
Deputy Gallagher said he last year met Michel Barnier Chief EU negotiator and was assured that future fisheries access would be agreed in the context of an overall free trade agreement.
He added that unless access was given by the UK Government to EU vessels to British and Scottish waters then no overall trade agreement would be signed by the EU Members States with the UK – both Trade and Fisheries Access are equal in terms on negotiations.
Pat the Cope’s comments come after the UK Government are set to publish legislation which would end automatic rights for European Union vessels to fish in UK waters.
The Donegal TD said this is a provocative piece of Legislation on the part of the newly elected Tory Government and it must be treated as just that.
Deputy Gallagher commented, “This Bill will have grave implications for Irish fishing vessels, as 60% of mackerel and 40% of our nephrops are caught in UK waters. Fish stocks at sea recognise no boundaries or restrictions. The United Kingdom and Ireland have never had a sea-based boundary or fishing restriction between our two nation states.
“I firmly believe that the newly elected tory Government are just playing to the gallery of Brexiters on their backbenches, and they realise that the Draft Bill which they present to the House of Commons is not worth the paper it is written on, if they desire a free trade agreement with the EU then draft pieces of legislation such as this must be binned.
“There will be no free trade agreement with the EU unless and until access to UK Waters is secured for EU Member States including Ireland.”
He added that we depend so much on access to UK waters it is imperative fish and trade talks are a key component of forthcoming trade negotiations.
He said the next government, and our present Commissioner Hogan and others have a responsibility in these negotiations to advocate on behalf of the Irish commercial fishing industry.
He concluded “The UK needs to realise that Bills in the House of Commons will cut no slack when they as a nation need access to EU Markets, the serious trade talks are about to begin, and this state needs to guarantee that all the fishing interests of this State are fully represented in the months ahead and the EU unite behind the unbreakable link between trade talks and access to fishing grounds.”
