The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has declined calls to meet a Donegal fisherman who is on hunger strike in protest at legislation to restore reciprocal access for Northern Irish fishermen to Irish waters.
Mr Mac Lochlainn appealed to Mr Creed to meet Mr Kelly from Greencastle in Donegal to hear his concerns around the restoration of the Voisinage Arrangement which would allow access for fishermen on both sides of the border for up to six nautical miles off the coast of each jurisdiction. He said: "It is also sub judice. That judgement is not perfected. It is to be perfected within 28 days and then it is open to any party to appeal and I not wish to stray into the details of that."
The 'Voisinage' or 'neighbour's agreement' between North and South has been suspended in Ireland since the Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that it had not been incorporated properly into Irish law.
Bit of a Thatcher about Mr creed.