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THE OWNERSHIP OF the seabed and waterline at Lough Foyle on the Derry-Donegal border has been questioned – with confusion about whether the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Irish Republic or the United Kingdom.
Donegal County Council has signalled its intent to buy a part of the waters at Lough Foyle in order to construct a waste water treatment plant there. However, the UK Crown Estate has also claimed propriety ownership of the sea floor of Lough Foyle to the high water mark on the Donegal side of the lough, according to Deputy Pádraig Mac Loughlainn.
Mac Loughlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, on the status of negotiations with the Crown Estate regarding ownership of the area.
Following reports that gardaí on the County Donegal side of Lough Foyle had been instructed to take no action below the high water level of the lough – as they ‘have no jurisdiction’ there – Shatter said the question of the proprietary ownership of the sea floor of Lough Foyle was still being reviewed.
Meanwhile, Deputy Coveney said that the issue was “complex and involve(s) a number of stakeholders”. He added that while the general issue of the State’s maritime boundaries was a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, both Departments would continue to work closely together “to progress the matter of aquaculture licensing in respect of Lough Foyle”.
A group representing local residents, Community For a Clean Estuary, has opposed the establishment of a waste management plant at the site for more than 20 years, according to Inishowen Community Radio.
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Well, its all ours anyway! At least morally…..:-)
Next thing, Prince William will be stationed there, along with a couple of nuclear subs.
Somebody must of found something shiny there!
Oh dear, this could all get very confusing! I don’t know, maybe draw a line down the middle of the lake. I rather hope this doesn’t turn into an ugly diplomatic squabble. In all honesty, the UK has nothing to gain by claiming the sea floor right up to the shoreline.
Is it a lake?
If we’re indulging in pedantry as is the wont of many commentators here, it is indeed an estuary and not a lake.
No doubt we will give in thanks to our usual spineless ways… Our seas, national anthem n rugby, marches by bigots in Dublin etc etc
Them feckin dubs, that pay the taxes that keep the rest of the country going.
@Ciaro I think he’s referring to them dirty unionist marches in dublin that are allowed to go ahead! Get off your high horse!
Countries have gone to war over less!
As usual the locals are opposed to Water Treatment, they are not opposed to taking a dump or septic tanks
I am a local and there is no opposition to the building of a water treatment plant .. Just opposition as to where it will be placed. The proposed site for the pipes is on a beach which would take away a local amenity to a community to us locals especially to young people as there is not much for us to do already!
The pipes have to come out somewhere on the coast/waterway, and anyway the water is treated and of no threat to bathing standards.
Why now, are the government planning on selling it?
“Give Ireland back to the Irish”
(Paul Mcartney )
I wish our ministers would get some backbone,stand up for us……… It’s ours ffs!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was this not covered by the Treaty?
This is a little bit like dispute over rockall
In June 2010 Waterways Ireland compulsory purchased lough Ennell to feed the largely unused Royal Canal. The Royal Canal goes to Dublin, so the lack of water in the capital has been solved. Pump from the Royal canal, purify it and the capital has it’s water supply problem solved. No doubt we can simply CPO any other lough also.
The pipes have to come out somewhere. Anyway the water will be post treatment at that point, and no threat to bathing quality, thats why its called water treatment.
have your say