Tánaiste insists Irish fishermen have legal right to fish at Rockall

Irish fisherman have a legal right to fish in the waters around Rockall, the Tánaiste and Agriculture Minister have insisted - though there is no intention of sending naval ships to protect Irish boats.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed both said they do not accept the Scottish claim on some 12km of water around the isolated rock some 400km west off Donegal and said diplomatic and political efforts are underway in a bid to resolve the dispute.