§ 9. Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on discussions she has held with the Irish Government on ways of improving fishing opportunities in the Irish sea. [76687]
§ Mr. McFallOver the past six months I have written to the Taoiseach on a number of occasions in connection with a joint approach to exploitation of Irish Sea stocks. I am delighted to report that the United Kingdom and Irish Governments were able to co-operate at last December's Council of EU Fisheries Ministers. We achieved significant increases in fishing opportunities for haddock for the benefit of all fishermen fishing in the Irish Sea, particularly the Northern Ireland fleet. This was a very welcome development, and I hope that we will continue to find opportunities to co-operate constructively on fisheries issues.