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LAST UPDATE | 29 Oct 2021
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL Macron has appeared to suggest the UK has not kept its Brexit pledges as a row over fishing rights intensified.
France is threatening to block British boats from its ports and tighten checks on vessels if an issue over a lack of licences for small French vessels to fish in British waters is not resolved by Tuesday.
The UK has suggested it could retaliate if France carries out its hardline stance.
In an interview with the Financial Times, French leader Macron said the UK’s “credibility” was at stake over the dispute in what will be seen as a reference to the handling of post-Brexit fishing licences.
He told the newspaper: “When you spend years negotiating a treaty and then a few months later you do the opposite of what was decided on the aspects that suit you the least, it is not a big sign of your credibility.”
Boris Johnson, who admitted there is “turbulence” in Anglo-French relations currently, vowed to do “whatever is necessary to ensure UK interests”.
The British Prime Minister said he was “puzzled about what is going on” and claimed Paris’ behaviour could be in contravention of the UK’s Brexit deal with the European Union.
Speaking to reporters on the flight to the G20 in Rome, he urged British fishermen to “be confident about going about their lawful business” as he promised action against any infringements on their right to fish.
No 10 said it would not be commenting on Macron’s latest remarks.
It comes as Downing Street separately confirmed that Johnson and Macron will talk on the margins of the G20 this weekend.
The wrangle over fishing access escalated this week after French authorities accused a Scottish-registered scallop dredger of fishing without a licence.
The captain of the Cornelis Gert Jan vessel, understood to be an Irish national, was detained in Le Havre during the diplomatic storm and has been told to face a court hearing in August next year.
French authorities allege the Cornelis Gert Jan did not have a licence, a claim the boat’s owner Macduff Shellfish denies. The EU said UK authorities withdrew the licence on March 1.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss took the rare step of ordering an allied nation’s envoy to be summoned as she called Catherine Colonna, French ambassador to the UK, to the Foreign Office on Friday afternoon to challenge her over France’s stance.
Colonna’s conversation with Europe minister Wendy Morton lasted less than 15 minutes and she did not speak to the waiting press pack after leaving the Whitehall department.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the minister “expressed concern” to the ambassador over “unjustified measures announced by France earlier this week” and, like the Prime Minister, warned of a possible breach of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA).
The meeting came after ministers promised retaliation if France did not back down over its proposals if next week’s deadline for increased licences is not met.
Brexit minister Lord Frost, in a meeting on Friday with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol, warned of “rigorous” checks on EU vessels if the threats were carried out.
Earlier in the day, Environment Secretary George Eustice did not rule out blocking French vessels as he condemned a “completely inflammatory” claim from France’s Europe minister Clement Beaune that the only language Britain understands is “the language of force”.
Asked by the BBC how the UK would respond if France blocked British trawlers, the Cabinet minister responded: “Two can play at that game.”
At the centre of the dispute are the licences for small boats, which are issued only if the vessels can demonstrate a history of fishing in British waters.
Eustice told MPs on Thursday 171 vessels have been licensed to fish in the UK six to 12 nautical mile zone, of which 103 are French, with 18 under 12 metres.
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In any other country, the government would have fallen due to the Cervical Check scandal. Not in this banana republic though. Never mind, I’m sure there’s some way the Leobots can blame this on Sinn Féin. Keeping the recovery going for the few, not the many.
@European Bob: A couple of years ago the Bulgarian government fell because of a rise in electricity prices. Huge protests all over the country, some turned violent.
@Dave Doyle: The greatest trick FF/FG ever pulled was convincing the Irish people that there is no choice. There is always choice. Those that say there isn’t are liars.
@European Bob: That’s the purpose of the so-called “opinion polls” suggesting to people how they must vote, or they are out of kilter with the “majority” of the country. The quango of FFG has to go. They’ve had 100 years of gravy while the people sup on a thin gruel.
And before our friends ask, i don’t care if it’s Gerry and the Pacemakers who take over. Any alternative has to be given the chance.
@Dave Doyle: Gee, Dave, you’re in a really good mood today.
I’d say Christmas Day will be a great laugh in your house. Not.
Yeah, I know, you live in Bulgaria…..they don’t do Christmas…..blah, blah, blah……nobody cares.
@samstheman: Happy Christmas to you too Sam
@Dave Doyle: Yep and you know what. they’ll do, smear the people protesting calling them sinister fringe or something, I was at the water protests it was just families out with their kids hardly sinister fringe, ordinary everyday people who somehow become enemy of the public simply for not being able to afford this greed driven government.
@European Bob: what the Shinners…lol…ha ha ha ha…
@Diogenes: and who was up front of the march? You didnt see the Shinners, Eirigri, PBP, ? You must have had blinkers on !
@Chin Feeyin: A very Happy Christmas to you and yours Chin!
Must be hard for Leo to pick a low point of 2018, there’s just been so many to choose from. This government of FG propped up by their doppelganger FF is morally bankrupt.
@European Bob: With all that’s happening in our country this utter gombeen is worried about his (& his fellow leeches) popularity.
Our Mothers,Wives,Sisters,Daughter’s etc are living under fear of misdiagnosis.
There are gang related killings, Drugs are rampant, our health system is a pure joke, homelessness at an all time high but this eejit is spending €500,000 + to look good on videos !!!.
God only knows how much they pay to advisors and wages.
Just shows where their priorities really sit.
He was spoilt for choice.
Happy Christmas everyone
71 dead men in Irish Air Corps chemical exposure tragedy & Leo has simply ignored multiple whistle-blowers.
He has ignored Protected Disclosures made directly to him regarding the ongoing deaths of personnel.
@Chemical Brothers: unbelievably neglected and lots of families destroyed. But unfortunately and not to take away from womens issues, this was men therefore not en vogue in today’s climate. Its all about the votes.
@Chemical Brothers:
And let’s not forget those still under the death sentence of cervical smear tests and the children waking up to now mother this morning.
What a twisted country eh.
@tommytukamomo: Air Corps personnel ACTUALLY POISONED BY THE STATE would be happy with equality on this issue.
Free cancer screening, health supports, perhaps even a statutory investigation as to why the Air Corps left personnel to rot since 1995 when they measured some workplace airborne CMRs at multiples of safety limits.
Completely different level of state culpability in this scandal both from Air Corps and State Claims Agency, the latter having considerable skin in the game.
@Chemical Brothers: not just ignored them but tried to bad mouth then as upstarts, surprised he didn’t call them dissidents
@Dan public: Here’s Leo telling the Dáil that “cancer happens”. He obviously believes that ignoring state health & safety legislation has no concequences. Might as well scrap the HSA so…not needed.
@Chemical Brothers:, I know man and I personally know a few of the people.
They are in a horrific limbo and I feel so sorry for them.
@tommytukamomo: Thing is there is the potential for a substantial public health dividend from the Air Corps tragedy.
When we eventually convince Leo to switch the states efforts away from solicitors & barristers and towards science & medicine there will be a lot to learn.
From studying our illness cluster there is potential to change how many inflammatory illnesses (that are currently overwhelming out health system) are treated.
This is a scandal with a difference. This is a scandal with a POTENTIAL silver lining. We just need politicians to grasp the opportunity and luckily an increasing number are paying attention.
WATCH THIS SPACE
@Chemical Brothers: reckon he can bring them back to life??
@Seamus G: go home Seamus, you’re drunk.
Still ignoring the worsening homeless crisis i see.
@Adrian: The homeless numbers reaching over 10,000 was one of Leo’s high-points of 2018 although he can’t say that publicly obviously, only in private while surrounded by his neo-liberal chums.
I’m sure he lost a lot of sleep over it it being his government being found out for what it is incompetent
Going by the article in the indo, he thinks he’s had a hugely successful year! Still faking it, supposedly gets angry when people says he’s only in it for the money. Well thats what it looks like because they’re all paying themselves an unjustifiable fortune, they can’t fix anything, and its all just fake promotion with them. Strange measure of success! Only reason we haven’t had an election has been because of the gov being backed up by equally horrendous FF, and neither want an election because of being 30% in the polls. There have been so many viable reasons now to bring down this gov that the whole setup is a joke.
I had hoped to see some good news stories on the Journal this Christmas morning. First up, Leo and the incompetents feat. FF. Ah well, that’s my breakfast ruined! But on a positive note, it can only get better ☺❤ Happy Christmas all.
@European Bob:
Many happy returns.
What about his hospital which will become the 9th most expensive building in human history.
I would be happy to hear of one single problem he addressed and fixed everything he touched just got worse back by the devil of FF .
In any other place they would be asking what your highlight of 2018 was, with no option to choose from low points are easier to this incompetent shower
“Misinformed”?
Imagine if some other people used that excuse. Imagine if Theresa May used it or Donald Trump. How much leeway would they get?
Absolutely none and rightly so.
It’s an even more shallow excuse for Mr Varadkar as he did actually serve as Minister for Health and would have had knowledge of the scandal many years ago.
Varadkar and Harris should have resigned on the spot when the scandal broke, but that couldn’t be allowed happen as it would have disrupted the referendum on the eighth amendment.
And now, thanks to spineless Martin, we won’t have a chance to vote until 2020.
Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
8th as well
@Alan Scott: That was a high point.
The continuing ED/ health crisis, missed targets on climate change, housing/homeless crisis/ increase in rough sleepers, €270 million more to Anglo Bondholders, evictions/ property seizures on the increase.
Ah yes, politics, were failure is success, good is bad, up is down, back is forward and all they do is spin till we are so dizzy we can’t remember the last scandal.
And did Leo Offer to resign?????????? NNNNNoooooooooooooo. What was that you said €200 Thou P/A OOOoooo right Resign Yea that for Muppets” Resign”
He’s always trying to put himself in the crowd pointing at the villain, like he’s one of us, one of the punters, well I’ve got news for you Leo, you’re the Villain!
Well isn’t that just pure inconvenient that people have to die in order to show you what an utter looser
you really are.
My heart bleeds for you and your fellow over paid vermin.
Do enjoy your taxpayer funded feast and months holiday and God forbid you choke on anything.
@tommytukamomo: Well said. These creatures don’t feel remorse or empathy. It’s people’s lives that are the collateral damage to our politicians incompetence.
@European Bob: unfortunately the only sphere of life that these creatures are comfortable in is politics.
No other industry in the world would take them and they wouldn’t last a week in a real job.
Born parasite, live as a parasite and die as a parasite.
he has had 360 low points so far ..poor leader. he has forgotten the people that put him there
@Brian Martyn: actually brian the ‘people ‘ didnt put him there – fg ‘select committee’ did leo has never won a general election — he took over from edna and ff backtracked to form a coalition ,the people have yet to have their say on leo as a taoiseach –it can’t come soon enough !
“It was one of those days when you’re reminded why you’re in politics”. In fairness, leo can’t answer anything without it being political. His answer to this was political, a reply to the cervcheck people to say, “we could have handled it better, so vote for us again next time”!
Your low point Leo? What about the women who have died, and are seriously ill and dying due to your government’s lack of accountability
the nations ‘low point’ was him and his corrupt party still being in government !
Ministers for Health should be fully informed about serious issues affecting the health service,this scandal goes back years!By the way the lowest points were experienced by the women,widowers and their families!
Other scandals, National emergencies affecting ordinary people are the daily ‘low points’ that the homeless people, families especially children experience,plus the daily ‘low points’ of those waiting in pain/distress on hospital waiting lists,plus the daily ‘low points’ of those struggling with rising rents,insecure accommodation,plus the daily ‘low points’ of those who are carers for disabled, elderly & children who need more supports,plus the daily ‘low points’ of those experiencing deprivation or consistent poverty,etc
Leo the liar is a self obsessed gombeen, this government is a shambles.
Absolutely awful government, squeezed middle, cervical check outrage, homeless crisis, outrageous hospital waiting times, old country folk being evicted by northern security and even after all that I’m probably missing something!
Everything he didn’t do was a low point, everything he did was quite similar funnily enough!
leo gave us EBORTION he’s a proud baby killer
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