Thread by @tconnellyRTE

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said fishing communities on the Irish seaboard must be protected in any free trade agreement with the UK, but that it was in everyone’s interests for a deal to be reached.

2/ Arriving at the #EUCO Martin said there were still tough negotiations ahead, but that there had been “good engagement” between both sides in recent weeks.

The Taoiseach was due to meet the French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the summit to discuss the fisheries issue.

3/ Mr Martin said the outstanding issues of the level playing field, how disputes are resolved (governance), and fisheries remained “significantly challenging.”

4/ “We are concerned in terms of fisheries that our coastal communities are protected. Fisheries in key coastal communities represent the most signfiicant industry in some areas in Donegal, in Cork and the south east, in Wexford, right across the seaboard,” he said.

5/ However, he suggested that if the political will was there, then a deal could be reached.

“It has always been my view that it is in everybody’s interests – the UK’s, Ireland’s, Europe as a whole – that we reach a comprehensive agreement in terms of trade and other issues.

6/ “It can’t be a deal at any price obviously, and I think ther are still some tough negotiations to take place,” he said.

He added: “Ultimately both sides know that the only route to a resolution is dialogue and sensible dialogue at that.

7/ “There has been a degree of engagement between both sets of negotiators in the last while. In my view, with good polticial will on both sides, an agreement could be reached,” he told reporters.

8/ On the Internal Market Bill the Taoiseach said that in order for an overall trade agreement to be reached, the UK would have to remove the clauses in the Internal Market Bill which breach the Protocol on Northern Ireland.

9/ “The British government know our position on that. There are offending clauses in that bill which in our view will have to be removed and neutered in the context of any overall comprehenives deal that is arrived at.”