Lough Foyle

(asked on 27th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many occasions since February 2017 have meetings been held between officials in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic to conclude a management agreement which would clarify criminal and regulatory jurisdiction on Lough Foyle.


Answered by
John Penrose Portrait
John Penrose
This question was answered on 2nd July 2019

The Government recognises the need to take action to address illegal activity on Lough Foyle and our position on Lough Foyle has not changed. The regulation of activities in Lough Foyle is the responsibility of the Loughs Agency, a cross-border body established under the Belfast Agreement of 1998.

We remain fully committed to these arrangements and continue to work closely with the Irish Government over improvements to the management of the Loughs. British and Irish officials last met in October 2017 when a number of issues were discussed including the Loughs, and the management of aquaculture in them, and they have been in regular contact since.

Reticulating Splines