Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“In November 2017 I wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs highlighting the fact that the Voisinage Agreement which had continued for 50 years had been ruled legally unenforceable by the Dublin Supreme Court in October 2016 and that since that point Northern Ireland fishermen had been denied access to the waters of the Republic in the 0-6 mile limit. Yet, the Republic’s fishermen continued to have unfettered access to Northern Ireland’s water.
“Following the Irish Supreme Court ruling the Dublin government promised to legislate to restore the rights of Northern Irish fishermen, but this has not happened. The draft legislation has stalled in face of opposition in the Republic.
“So, the Republic’s fishermen continue to fish our 0-6 mile limit, but we are barred from theirs.
“Today we learn that as a consequence two Northern Irish boats have been impounded by the Irish Navy!
“I pointed out to DAERA in November 2017 that clearly, since the reciprocal nature of the arrangement has been broken, we need to move to end the right of the Republic’s fishermen to operate in our waters.
“Instead of doing so the Permanent Secretary told me he wants to await having a local minister in office. Why? The reciprocal basis of the Voisinage Agreement has been breached, so why are we still pretending it exists and operating it to the disadvantage of local fishermen?
“In December 2017 I stated publicly stated that:
“It is time to stand up for Northern Ireland’s fishermen and restore parity by ensuring the Republic’s fleets stop plundering our fish stocks while we are kept out of Irish waters.”
“The case for doing so is unanswerable in light of recent events and I renew my call for our Department to stand up for Northern Ireland’s fishermen. Doing nothing is no longer an option”.