As the Deputy knows, Rockall is a small, uninhabitable rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda, and 230 nautical miles to the north west of Donegal. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has not sought to claim sovereignty over Rockall. The UK claimed sovereignty over Rockall in 1955 and sought to formally annex it as part of Scotland under its 1972 Island of Rockall Act. The consistent position of successive Irish Governments has been that Ireland does not recognise Britain’s claim of sovereignty over Rockall. Accordingly, Ireland does not accept that a 12 nautical mile, 22 km, territorial sea exists around Rockall. Ireland’s long-held view is that a rock incapable of sustaining human habitation does not allow for the creation of a territorial sea. Therefore, the agreement under the trade and co-operation agreement, TCA, relating to access to the UK 12 to 200 mile zone should apply inside the 12 nautical mile zone around Rockall. We understand that the UK takes a different view. Irish vessels have traditionally fished for haddock, which is subject to a quota limit, and squid, which is not subject to a quota limit, in the waters around Rockall. Haddock may be caught both within and outside 12 nautical miles of Rockall, but squid is caught within six nautical miles of Rockall. Other stocks caught in the waters around Rockall, both within and outside of the 12-mile area, include monkfish and megrim. I assure Deputy Mac Lochlainn that reaching an agreement on issues relating to Rockall remains an important issue for the Government. The Government continues to be in regular contact with the relevant Scottish and UK authorities on the issue of Rockall. Through this engagement, the Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting the long-standing fisheries patterns in the area. I am committed to finding a way forward and will continue to work closely with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Harris, on this issue. The Deputy will be aware that both the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have raised this issue at diplomatic levels and will continue to do so. It is a matter that we would really like to resolve at the earliest possible opportunity.

Sentiment score: 0.16

I note the Deputy's personal interest in this, as well as that of others in the area who have raised it consistently with me. It is a position that goes back to the 1955 situation and, obviously, Brexit then had a really negative effect from a fisher's perspective. On Wednesday next, I am meeting the UK Minister with responsibility for fisheries, Mr. Daniel Zeichner, and I intend to raise this in the context of a broader discussion around challenges facing our respective fishing industries. There will be other issues discussed too, and I do not want to give the impression to the House that the meeting is just about Rockall because it is not. I also intend, in the course of other meetings with the Scottish Minister and others, to discuss this matter at every available opportunity. I note the Deputy's interest and his suggestion that arbitration may ultimately be the solution, or at least a pathway towards a solution. I will continue to work on this and keep the Deputy informed of any developments that arise in this area.

Sentiment score: 0.27

I will not be found wanting in conveying the feelings of this House. We are united on this issue. We are not always united on issues here but we are very united on trying to find a resolution to this. I am conscious that it has to be done through the diplomatic channels. I am also conscious that there are significant legacy issues and that, notwithstanding the view of some in this House that the securing of access to UK waters for the next 12 years is positive, we still have to recognise the loss of quota and the negative impact of that on our sector. I am also conscious that, on the other side, the British fishing sector believes it has lost significantly as a result of reciprocal access. There appear to be two losers in this debate. I recognise the British Government's difficulties in that regard. However, recognising that does not and will not preclude me from fighting the case for Irish fishers who have lost very specific quota in the first instance, not to mention the squid fishery, which was a really important part of their economic activity at a particular time of the year but is no longer available to them. We have to do everything we can to try to address that.

Sentiment score: -0.17

I thank the Deputy for her question. Sprat is a small pelagic schooling fish that occurs inshore. Sprat is a short-lived species and an important prey fish for many marine species, those vital to the ocean food chain, as well as an important source of income for inshore fishermen. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, considers sprat to be a data-limited stock, which means that more detailed data is required to form a full understanding of the state of the stock. However, the Marine Institute has been actively involved in work on sprat through research surveys and fisheries catch sampling. From this work, it has data and information on the biology, population dynamics and stock structure of sprat around Ireland. Studies have not to date shown evidence of separate stocks in the Celtic Sea, and the ICES considers sprat in ICES divisions 6 and 7 to be a single stock. Sprat around the Irish coast is known to perform seasonal migrations between winter feeding and summer spawning grounds. The latest acoustic survey for sprat in the Celtic Sea and the south Irish Sea was conducted by the Marine Institute in October 2024 as part of its annual survey series, ongoing since the early 2000s. The survey results are available on its website. This survey shows no evidence of sprat moving northwards and no collapse in the abundance of the species over the scale of the surveyed area. At this time, there is no proposal from the European Commission for a total allowable catch, TAC, and quota management arrangement for fodder fish such as sprat in the waters around Ireland. Ireland will, of course, have regard for a possible TAC and quota regime or other appropriate conservation measures going forward if recommended in the scientific advice to support the sustainable management of these stocks.

Sentiment score: 0.11

I am aware of the Deputy's knowledge and experience in this area, and I take that on board. She is right to identify sprat as an important feeder stock for mammals, birds and other fish species in those areas she has identified. I will continue to engage with the Marine Institute with regard to the information it has and data it is capturing as part of its overall assessment of stocks in the region generally. The Deputy will be familiar with an effort made by a previous Government to look at the capture of sprat in a manner that is not so much based on the reduction in or concerns about the stock volumes, but more to try to support the inshore fishing sector. For that sector, with its smaller operations, sprat provides an economic dividend for their livelihoods. It is important to coastal communities. I know there will be a further question on this matter later. Time permitting, I will address the current position in a more holistic way.

Sentiment score: 0.19

The overall catch of stock has grown significantly in recent years. That indicates that there is not a major threat in the short term to the supply of sprat. However, it is my view that to continue to fish at those levels would certainly lead to a significant negative impact. I will get into the process that is under way a little later. I have to be mindful, in whatever decision is ultimately taken, that it is a proportionate response to the threat and risk to the stock and to the economic viability of the inshore fishing sector. We must take all of that into account when a decision is being made. I am hopeful we will not just have reviewed the upwards of 5,500 submissions that have been made in the latest consultation period. I have also sought from the Marine Institute the latest scientific information available and general economic data to assist me in making a decision about how we move forward in the next phase.

Sentiment score: 0.02