Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether legal advice has been sought by the Government to confirm the territorial jurisdiction of (a) Lough Foyle and (b) Carlingford Lough before negotiations begin on the UK leaving the EU; and if he will make a statement.

The Government’s position on Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough has not changed. The regulation of activities in the Loughs 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.

Like the Irish Government, we do not anticipate these issues forming part of the negotiations over the UK’s exit from the European Union.