A newly published Ireland-Scotland bilateral review advocates economic co-operation in areas including the marine and renewable energy.
However, the issue of Rockall is not mentioned, although access flared up as an issue in early January when a Donegal vessel was boarded by a Marine Scotland patrol.
Ireland’s foreign affairs and marine ministers Simon Coveney and Charlie McConalogue have warned Irish vessels of “increased risk of enforcement action” by Scottish authorities around Rockall while “engagement continues” to find a diplomatic solution.
Ireland does not recognise Scotland’s bid to impose a 12-mile limit around the rock.
The joint review advocates co-operation in business and the economy, and between rural, island and coastal communities.
Mr Coveney, and the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs Michael Russell say that it involved wide consultations between the two governments, and “substantial public engagement”.
The document sets out a series of joint actions and 40 recommendations in business and the economy; community and diaspora; culture; academia and research; rural, coastal and island economies, as well as government and political relations.
“At the heart of the review report is a shared understanding of the importance of securing the closest possible relationships between Scotland and Ireland, as well as between the UK and Ireland, for the coming years,” the two ministers have stated.
The document notes that Ireland is Scotland’s closest international trading partner and sixth largest export market, with Scotland exporting £1.235bn in goods and services to Ireland in 2018.
It quotes 73% of questionnaire respondents who believe that rural, coastal, and island communities are very important to the Ireland-Scotland relationship.
Ireland’s ocean economy had a turnover of €6.2 billion and a direct economic contribution of €2.2 billion (1.1% of GDP) in 2018, according to latest available figures published in 2019.
Marine Scotland supports fishing & aquaculture with a turnover of around £1.7 billion including about 75,000 jobs in the marine industry and marine tourism.
Among the recommendations are regular high-level contact between Scottish and Irish ministers and continued cooperation through the British-Irish Council, an institution of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
It recommends a new Ireland-Scotland Trade Taskforce, supported by the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh and the Scottish Government Office in Dublin, which will work with the public and private sectors to develop and support trade relations.
It recommends a conference convened by both governments this year to address the “opportunities and challenges” of living in rural, coastal and island communities, working with the University of Highlands and Islands and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Other recommendations envisage deeper cooperation on health issues; a new framework for cooperation on education; research and development of offshore renewable energy technologies; cultural exchanges; and co-operation in sport.