Timmy Dooley
Clare · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I thank both Senators for the amendments they are putting forward and the sentiment behind them. I will deal with the points about the emergency. The Government made it very clear that a decision was taken, based on a decision taken by the previous Government in November 2024.”
“The State has taken a view, however, that is consistent with our desire and our commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and onwards to 2040 and 2050, that this facility is strategic, as it says, that it is only for storage and that it is not meant to be a market play and cannot be a market play.”
“It is, but it is not an either-or situation. If €1 billion could sort it out with more batteries, wind or solar then that is the route we would be taking. We are investing very significant amounts of money in our electricity grid.”
“As the Senators know, the piece of kit – effectively the ship – will be leased in. There are a number of these around the world and they move on. First, we are not investing in the kind of infrastructure that had been a feature of discussions in the past.”
“All fossil fuels are harmful to the environment. The Senator is right that methane has a much higher concentration and is more impactful by what is referred to as the carbon dioxide equivalence. It is much greater than carbon dioxide but it also has shorter life in the atmosphere. It dissipates over time whereas carbon dioxide does not.”
“If we were to do it, however, to get the private sector to pay for the security - I think it is accepted on all sides that there is a necessity for some security in terms of the gas supply - and if the Government were to say it would provide that through a market-led private consortium and initiate an auction to allow entities around the…”
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“In relation to gas specifically, my Department has had regular engagements on the topic of gas security of supply with various European and international ministries and embassies, including the US Embassy, where our officials discussed the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve, in the form of a floating storage and regasification unit to secure and protect Ireland’s energy systems from the consequences of any disruption to our subsea gas pipelines. This proactive intervention, once developed, will ensure that Ireland's largest commercial entities that rely on gas for production of pharmaceutical products, medical devices, IT, manufacturing, food and beverages will not experience a disruption to their energy supplies if damage to gas subsea pipelines occurs.”
“I appreciate the Deputy's question. Ireland engages with the US across a broad range of multilateral energy forums, from the United Nations and the G20, where Ireland is a guest country under the current South African Presidency, to the IEA and IRENA. While respecting different policy emphases regarding, for example, energy mix and the role of renewables in particular, we also enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship with United States colleagues on issues related to energy and beyond.”
“Grants of 100% are now in place for inshore fishermen and women participating in the lobster V-notching scheme. An innovative scheme to support the economic development of the inshore fishing fleet, the inshore fleet economic assessment scheme, was put in place in 2024. Inshore fishers can also access supports under other schemes, such as the fleet safety scheme and the seafood training scheme. All these schemes are administered on behalf of my Department through BIM, as the Deputy knows. Further details on them are available from me. I am happy to continue to work with the sector to try to provide the most support possible, recognising that there are constraints set out in both domestic and European law.”
“I recognise that. When I was before the committee chaired by Deputy McGuinness recently, I informed it that I have asked an outside interlocutor to work with the sector generally. Mr. Kieran Mulvey has accepted the role of working with all stakeholders in the sector to identify areas where we can assist and develop a way forward or pathway as part of a strategy that the Department will develop under the programme for Government. The Department has significantly improved the financial supports available to the inshore fleet in the past year, having implemented a number of schemes to specifically support inshore fishers and improved the aid rates available. These schemes include the small-scale coastal fisheries schemes, which provide unprecedented enhanced grants of up to 80% to inshore fishers for both onboard and onshore investment.”
“I am happy to communicate with the Minister but I do not want to give the Deputy false hope either. The Deputy talks about the disparity between the numbers of those who are engaged in the sector and those who are drawing down those income supports. I am conscious that no more than in farming, there are some part-time fishermen and fisherwomen who operate in that sector and have income from other sources so their combined income would certainly put them outside the threshold of means testing. It is important to put that on the record as well.”
“As I outlined in my initial response to the Deputy, it is not possible to apportion any of the funding available to our Department through EMFAF to the income support he talks about. As he knows, and as is the case with farm assist, income support comes through the Department of Social Protection. While that does not fall within my responsibility, I am happy to have a conversation with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on that. I am also conscious that the supports that are generally available through the Department of Social Protection are funds for individuals in really difficult circumstances. They are not seen as income support. They are really a means to allow individuals to get through a really difficult time, whether it be fluctuations of income or whatever. They are means tested and not really designed to be income supports.”
“I am happy to assist in disseminating that information. It may be something that can be done through press releases by all of us to remind those who find themselves in difficult circumstances that the supports of the Department of Social Protection are there to assist all concerned.”
“The EMFAF regulation does not make provision for the use of EMFAF funds to provide income supports to primary producers in the seafood sector. Equally, there is no provision in the relevant EU regulations governing state aid that would allow any Exchequer-funded subsidy scheme for the seafood sector or for fishermen, in particular. I note the Deputy's question revolves principally around the ability of fishermen and fisherwomen to engage with the Department of Social Protection on that. I assure the Deputy that whatever we can do on engaging with that sector, we are happy to do so. By the Deputy raising the question today, it has the capacity to highlight to those people who work in this sector that there is aid and support there, as there is with farm assist, which is again administered through the Department of Social Protection.”
“I thank the Deputy for the question. As he knows, the operation of the fish assist scheme is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. The primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector, including inshore and island fishermen and fisherwomen, is Ireland's seafood development programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF, 2021-2027. The measures which are eligible for aid are set out in the regulation governing the implementation of the EMFAF regulation, which is aligned with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy. There is no provision for direct income supports in relation to primary producers in the seafood sector under the Common Fisheries Policy.”
“I have also sought from the Marine Institute the latest scientific information available and general economic data to assist me in making a decision about how we move forward in the next phase.”
“The overall catch of stock has grown significantly in recent years. That indicates that there is not a major threat in the short term to the supply of sprat. However, it is my view that to continue to fish at those levels would certainly lead to a significant negative impact. I will get into the process that is under way a little later. I have to be mindful, in whatever decision is ultimately taken, that it is a proportionate response to the threat and risk to the stock and to the economic viability of the inshore fishing sector. We must take all of that into account when a decision is being made. I am hopeful we will not just have reviewed the upwards of 5,500 submissions that have been made in the latest consultation period.”
“I know there will be a further question on this matter later. Time permitting, I will address the current position in a more holistic way.”
“I am aware of the Deputy's knowledge and experience in this area, and I take that on board. She is right to identify sprat as an important feeder stock for mammals, birds and other fish species in those areas she has identified. I will continue to engage with the Marine Institute with regard to the information it has and data it is capturing as part of its overall assessment of stocks in the region generally. The Deputy will be familiar with an effort made by a previous Government to look at the capture of sprat in a manner that is not so much based on the reduction in or concerns about the stock volumes, but more to try to support the inshore fishing sector. For that sector, with its smaller operations, sprat provides an economic dividend for their livelihoods. It is important to coastal communities.”
“At this time, there is no proposal from the European Commission for a total allowable catch, TAC, and quota management arrangement for fodder fish such as sprat in the waters around Ireland. Ireland will, of course, have regard for a possible TAC and quota regime or other appropriate conservation measures going forward if recommended in the scientific advice to support the sustainable management of these stocks.”
“Studies have not to date shown evidence of separate stocks in the Celtic Sea, and the ICES considers sprat in ICES divisions 6 and 7 to be a single stock. Sprat around the Irish coast is known to perform seasonal migrations between winter feeding and summer spawning grounds. The latest acoustic survey for sprat in the Celtic Sea and the south Irish Sea was conducted by the Marine Institute in October 2024 as part of its annual survey series, ongoing since the early 2000s. The survey results are available on its website. This survey shows no evidence of sprat moving northwards and no collapse in the abundance of the species over the scale of the surveyed area.”
“I thank the Deputy for her question. Sprat is a small pelagic schooling fish that occurs inshore. Sprat is a short-lived species and an important prey fish for many marine species, those vital to the ocean food chain, as well as an important source of income for inshore fishermen. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, considers sprat to be a data-limited stock, which means that more detailed data is required to form a full understanding of the state of the stock. However, the Marine Institute has been actively involved in work on sprat through research surveys and fisheries catch sampling. From this work, it has data and information on the biology, population dynamics and stock structure of sprat around Ireland.”
“However, recognising that does not and will not preclude me from fighting the case for Irish fishers who have lost very specific quota in the first instance, not to mention the squid fishery, which was a really important part of their economic activity at a particular time of the year but is no longer available to them. We have to do everything we can to try to address that.”
“I will not be found wanting in conveying the feelings of this House. We are united on this issue. We are not always united on issues here but we are very united on trying to find a resolution to this. I am conscious that it has to be done through the diplomatic channels. I am also conscious that there are significant legacy issues and that, notwithstanding the view of some in this House that the securing of access to UK waters for the next 12 years is positive, we still have to recognise the loss of quota and the negative impact of that on our sector. I am also conscious that, on the other side, the British fishing sector believes it has lost significantly as a result of reciprocal access. There appear to be two losers in this debate. I recognise the British Government's difficulties in that regard.”
“I note the Deputy's interest and his suggestion that arbitration may ultimately be the solution, or at least a pathway towards a solution. I will continue to work on this and keep the Deputy informed of any developments that arise in this area.”
“I note the Deputy's personal interest in this, as well as that of others in the area who have raised it consistently with me. It is a position that goes back to the 1955 situation and, obviously, Brexit then had a really negative effect from a fisher's perspective. On Wednesday next, I am meeting the UK Minister with responsibility for fisheries, Mr. Daniel Zeichner, and I intend to raise this in the context of a broader discussion around challenges facing our respective fishing industries. There will be other issues discussed too, and I do not want to give the impression to the House that the meeting is just about Rockall because it is not. I also intend, in the course of other meetings with the Scottish Minister and others, to discuss this matter at every available opportunity.”
“The Government continues to be in regular contact with the relevant Scottish and UK authorities on the issue of Rockall. Through this engagement, the Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting the long-standing fisheries patterns in the area. I am committed to finding a way forward and will continue to work closely with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Harris, on this issue. The Deputy will be aware that both the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have raised this issue at diplomatic levels and will continue to do so. It is a matter that we would really like to resolve at the earliest possible opportunity.”
“Therefore, the agreement under the trade and co-operation agreement, TCA, relating to access to the UK 12 to 200 mile zone should apply inside the 12 nautical mile zone around Rockall. We understand that the UK takes a different view. Irish vessels have traditionally fished for haddock, which is subject to a quota limit, and squid, which is not subject to a quota limit, in the waters around Rockall. Haddock may be caught both within and outside 12 nautical miles of Rockall, but squid is caught within six nautical miles of Rockall. Other stocks caught in the waters around Rockall, both within and outside of the 12-mile area, include monkfish and megrim. I assure Deputy Mac Lochlainn that reaching an agreement on issues relating to Rockall remains an important issue for the Government.”
“As the Deputy knows, Rockall is a small, uninhabitable rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda, and 230 nautical miles to the north west of Donegal. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has not sought to claim sovereignty over Rockall. The UK claimed sovereignty over Rockall in 1955 and sought to formally annex it as part of Scotland under its 1972 Island of Rockall Act. The consistent position of successive Irish Governments has been that Ireland does not recognise Britain’s claim of sovereignty over Rockall. Accordingly, Ireland does not accept that a 12 nautical mile, 22 km, territorial sea exists around Rockall. Ireland’s long-held view is that a rock incapable of sustaining human habitation does not allow for the creation of a territorial sea.”
“If the court situation comes to a conclusion, it might be helpful. I believe I have covered most of the points in general, but maybe not all of them, but I am sure the Senators will have an opportunity to revert to me. I thank them again for their engagement.”
“While there is provision for what has been suggested and it makes sense, and while I really would like to do it, I am prevented from doing so. There have been some public discussions on the potential for some species quota allocations in a deal with Iceland. If this were to progress at European level, it could potentially provide an amount of quota within the zone. Some reallocation in that sense would be helpful because I know the benefits that would accrue; however, if the Department is caught legally, it prevents me from generating, based on what I believe might be the right thing to do, a further attempt to reallocate. It is a matter I am conscious of. I know what I would like to do but there is an impediment at the minute. Let us see whether we can get around that in due course.”
“That is an important feature and one I am examining but there is a difficulty. I thank the Senator for raising the matter. An allocation can be made as set out in Article 17, to which the Senator referred, but a decision taken in 2017 by the then Minister to change the policy on allocation following a review was challenged in the courts. I understand it is still in the courts under judicial review. The case was taken against the then Minister and the baton has been passed on to me. The matter is tied up in the courts. I would have to check the specific elements of the allocation. Until the process reaches a conclusion or the judicial review is withdrawn, I will not be in a position to set out a further policy statement on the reallocation of what are principally the same stocks.”
“ALAB is independent of the Department, as it should be, just as An Bord Pleanála is independent of a local authority that grants or refuses planning permission. I know that ALAB will follow the process and procedure. Of course, people are entitled to vent their frustration. I have sympathy for people with issues but I must be cognisant of the process and the principles of the rule of law, which will have to be allowed to take their course. Of course, I will happily accept the signatures collected and will be happy at political level to engage with people, but I must be very clear that respect for the rule of law requires me not to involve myself in any way with the decision ALAB will ultimately take. I have to respect that separation to protect all of us and the procedures in place. Was there another issue?”
“It is not dissimilar from the planning system we are all familiar with in our electoral areas. The process has to follow a particular path, taking into consideration all the conditions set out. A determination was reached based on the process and that determination was to grant approval. As with any planning permission application, people had an opportunity to make observations. In this instance, I understand observations were made and considered. A decision was taken to grant approval based on the application of the procedures and processes in place, but, as with the planning system we are familiar with, which includes An Bord Pleanála, one can appeal. In this case, an appeal is made to ALAB.”
“That is an issue I recognise there is a lot of interest in and we can work through that with a review. Some of this will be addressed through the Kieran Mulvey approach I am taking, which is to go out to all stakeholders, engage with them and listen to their views and concerns, some of which we may be able to advance and progress as part of our future framework coming from that strategy that has been promised in the programme for Government. There are others who I know will reflect on historical aspects. Kieran Mulvey is well able to listen – that is one of his strong points – but listening will not necessarily provide a solution to some of the issues. On the mussel farm that was recently granted approval by the Department, there is a process whereby a developer is entitled to apply.”
“I accept that and it is something I want to look at. I cannot give any commitments. I am conscious there is a view within the industry that we are out of kilter regarding the administrative approach rather than the criminal sanction for certain elements of that. I have made a commitment to look at this but I do not want to give any commitments relating to how I might ultimately proceed on it. The work that is under way-----”
“It acts as an independent body and a volume of legislation provides for the work it does. It is also part of our European membership and certain control regulations oversee all of that. Ideas are coming forward from the industry and so on as to how we can have more effective oversight through the use of technology and we will certainly look at that. There were proposals for the specific designation of the pier in Killybegs in a manner that would allow for it to be monitored electronically, which may prove to be of some benefit in addressing that. I am sure there were other points I have not been able to get to because of-----”
“The Tánaiste is very clear on that as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and continues to engage on this, as does the Taoiseach. I will be in the UK on 9 July to meet various stakeholders at political level. I will raise that in this context as would be appropriate but, again, that is a diplomatic issue that will rattle on for some time. We are committed to not recognising the British position and we recognise that if we could get access to those waters, it would be very helpful. Some Senators spoke about the SFPA. We must be conscious of the role the SFPA plays but there are some questions of oversight. There is a board and people within the SFPA have responsibility, having been appointed by the State. I do not have any input into the functioning of the SFPA.”
“I am engaging in bilaterals to build friends, not to negotiate. The negotiation is done by the European Union. I heard from Senator Collins from Sinn Féin that we should demand Ireland take certain action, but that is not how the European Union works. The only way we could do that is by leaving the Union and then acting in a unilateral way, but I do not think anyone here is suggesting that is the solution to our difficulty either. It is about diplomacy, and that also applies to Rockall. Several people spoke about the squid fishery we lost in Rockall. We have disputed vociferously the UK's approach and belief regarding Rockall as being in its territorial waters. We have never accepted that. We had some chance of retaining that fishery while it remained in EU waters but Brexit changed that landscape. We will continue to do that.”
“Regarding the current process with the CFP, which several people talked about it, an evaluation is under way. I am hopeful this will lead to a review, which will give some opportunities to argue points some Senators have made. I am also conscious, however, that it is not a poisoned chalice but a potential opportunity. Even so, it is not an open-door policy or an opening of the doors that will necessarily allow quota to flow in Ireland's direction because we feel we have been hard done by in Brexit, although I believe we have been by virtue of where our fleet was in the early stages. To gain quotas, someone has to give way and lose and that is a challenge where diplomacy will come into play. We are working very hard at departmental level to try to build alliances among like-minded states.”
“There are others who are passionate and I understand how opposition works, whereby Europe has to give way with a qualified majority on all of this. No matter how hard I bang the table, therefore, how loudly I scream or how great a nuisance I make of myself, people will say "Yes" but when we come to a decision or vote, we might not have the backing of others. Without that, it is not possible to get a better allocation of existing quotas. Where I do see potential opportunities, and we are in the early stages of exploring this with the Commission, is in recognising the impact of climate change and the way in which stocks are migrating into our waters because of the warming of waters further south. We are losing our potential quota stock on the upper end with fish migrating further north as well. That may have an impact at a later stage.”
“It is a burden on all of us to fathom how we ended up in a situation where we have so little quota in our own waters, but we must also understand they are not technically our waters. They are European waters. We have the six- or 12-mile limit, etc., and the Irish box but, truthfully, the vast majority of our seas are European waters and that is where the fish is. I do not want to go back to 1973 or even the years since but we had a very underdeveloped fishing sector when we entered the European Union. Other countries were far more advanced and had track records in that area. We did not have quotas at that stage and it was as a result of the decision taken then that these countries have quota. To win back quota, some other country have to give it up and we do not have a veto.”
“This is hugely important for protecting our fish stocks, seagrasses and various elements in that biodiversity sphere, which will be beneficial and helpful to fishing in the long run from a sustainability perspective. It does, however, have impacts upfront and I am conscious of that. This will be a role on which I will have to work with colleagues in each of the Departments to try to ameliorate, insofar as I can, the greatest impact. We will have to work with stakeholders on that. I thank all the Senators for their passionate approach to this. Senator Boyle, whom I have had the opportunity with all here to meet, particularly in the various different areas, set out very clearly the impact this has had on the sector. I have said from the start that I will not be in a position to change decisions taken in 1973 or 1982 or 1981.”
“The State is very clear and we are investing heavily in grid infrastructure to support the bringing of offshore renewables ashore. Senator Paul Daly reflected on the challenges that are there. While it is an important part of the decarbonisation of our economy to generate electricity from a much cleaner resource and to do so with the demand increasing as we get rid of fossil fuels, that energy must be generated somewhere. The Senator is right in that there is, in the first instance, the commercial activity of fishing but we also have commitments on the marine protection side. We have made a commitment to have identified 30% of our ocean space as marine protected areas to protect marine biodiversity by 2030. It is a large space considering that our sea space is seven times greater than our land mass.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach and all the Senators who contributed for their valuable input. As so much has been said, I will not be able to respond to each Senator individually but I will try insofar as I can, with the few minutes I have left, to cover some of the issues. Senator Blaney knows far more about fishing than I do but, by the same token, there is a lot in common between us, as others have mentioned as well. I come from a small farm and I understand the impact, particularly on the inshore sector, of the changes that have taken place. That has been my guiding light through this. He mentioned numerous issues that will be worked through by the Kieran Mulvey approach I am taking, such as taxation measures and looking at how we manage, on the other side, the huge opportunity for offshore renewables.”
“I will work with the sector and like-minded member states where we have alliances and where we are building more alliances to try to gain additional quotas, even in species where we may not have had historic fisheries. I thank the Chair for her forbearance.”
“I will discuss later in my concluding remarks about issues that arise. I will use every effort with the support of the Department in trying to fight for and attain any possible quota that might ultimately emerge either through changes in the CFP or any evidence or science-based information that can be provided in relation to the migration of stocks into our waters. We did not have a track record where there is still an allowable catch but where we do not have quota. Fish have now migrated as a result of the changing sea conditions due to climate change. Those are the kinds of things we can progress. I know there are people who would like to row back on decisions that were taken in the eighties. Unfortunately, I would be misleading this House if I gave the impression that I could do that.”
“I do. I wish to finish this piece on the EU-UK agreement. It was critically important for Ireland as we suffered disproportionately on quota transfers in the TCA and we were determined not to lose one more fish. There are people in the sector who would have liked to have had a reversal of the quota, but that was not possible. The agreement reached sees an extension of 12 years of the status quo to June 2038. This is significantly longer than the four years sought by the UK, and most importantly, does not involve the transfer of additional quota. From our perspective, we came out with the best deal possible, notwithstanding not being able to win back any quota. It gives certainty to the fishing sector and to the fleet for a period of time now with how they might manage investment.”
“Ireland’s perspective was, given the number of fish stocks shared between the EU and UK, which is more than 80 stocks, it would not be feasible to negotiate and agree on access to waters and quotas on an annual basis, even though that was set out in the original TCA. This kind of arm wrestle on access to EU waters every year simply would not provide our fishermen and women with the certainty they need to sustain their businesses. Against that backdrop, it was essential for Ireland to obtain the longest possible extension of access arrangements for UK waters, and to avoid the prospect of any further transfers in quota from the EU to the UK in exchange for these accesses. I have a couple of more points if the Acting Chairperson can give me more time.”
“During this time, the TCA provided that EU and UK fishing vessels would have reciprocal access to each other’s waters. After 30 June 2026, the TCA provided that access would be granted at a level and on conditions determined in the annual consultations. We have always known from the fishing sector that it was going to be extraordinarily difficult to try to deal with issues like this in isolation. Our sense was, based on information which was coming from back channels, that the British were not prepared to continue to provide the same reciprocal access without the trade of more quota. We made it clear at the time that was something we would not countenance. We were still not sure how we might be able to negotiate or navigate that because we had nothing and no chips to play.”
“That is something we have to look at. I will be talking to my colleagues in other Departments about how we might address that. To progress this, I have decided to engage a facilitator, Mr. Kieran Mulvey, to work with the seafood representative group to identify and articulate issues, priorities and opportunities for the sector. These will be considered when I am setting out the terms of reference of that fisheries sector strategy which was identified and promised in the programme for Government. I have a couple of topical issues that I should update the House on today. Senators are familiar with the extension of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement, TCA. As Members are aware, the adjustment period set out in the original TCA was to run from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2026.”
“Often, it is difficult because many of the people who are directly involved are impacted so negatively and an opportunity to meet a Commissioner has the potential to boil over. On that occasion, it was structured, direct, informative and helpful. I thank the industry for the professional way in which they engaged with the Commissioner. The programme for Government commits to publish a five-year fisheries sector strategy that will include an examination of the processing sector and to continue to support and promote improvements in fisheries and aquaculture. I am conscious that the processing sector is suffering and hurting because, as quotas reduce, even though values of fish stocks may increase on the marketplace, the processors at the end of the day are only taking a margin. A reduced volume of fish or quota has a real negative impact.”
“I have supported the processors at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona with BIM and am open to supporting them whenever I can and wherever the need arises. During European Maritime Day in May, I had the pleasure of visiting Castletownbere with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, where together we invited all the seafood representatives to join us for a joint meeting. The occasion also provided me with an opportunity to present the concerns of the sector in Ireland to the Commissioner. Having had the opportunity to meet him on a number of subsequent occasions, I believe that his visit to Castletownbere was impactful and that he has listened to the message from Irish fishermen and women. I am thankful for the co-operative way in which the sector engaged with the Commissioner on that occasion.”
“are accessed by processors. Many Senators are aware that I have placed a heavy emphasis on personal engagement with the seafood sector since I took on this role in February. So far, I have visited three of the State’s fishery harbour centres, Killybegs, Castletownbere and Ros an Mhíl, more than once. I have engaged directly with stakeholders across the board from the catching, aquaculture and processing sectors. I am due to visit Howth and Dunmore East this month and I intend to get to Dingle to coincide with the regatta in August. I have met with seafood representative groups, all recognised producer organisations, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, NIFF, the fish co-operatives, processors and aquaculturalists on several occasions. I was also delighted to attend the Skipper Expo in March to meet the wider community.”
“Many of these supports were the result of the recommendations of the seafood task force, to which industry representatives made a valuable contribution. More generally, funding for supports for the commercial seafood sector are provided under the seafood development programme. These are designed to strengthen competitiveness, sustainability and employment. The programme is cofunded by the Government and the EU Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027, better known as EMFAF. Schemes for industry under the SDP are primarily implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Bord Bia. Bord Bia assists seafood processors to attend international trade shows and market study visits, and to carry out consumer and market research. Other supports like marketing, innovation, new product development etc.”
“Senators with an interest in fishing know well the highly negative impact Brexit had on many sectors, but particularly the fishing sector. The very significant loss of quota to the Irish fleet in particular as a trade for continued access to British waters has been challenging for the sector. While the BAR was a help, it did not mitigate all the impact there. I am very cognisant of that when I talk with people affected by that event. Total Government spend across the seafood sector, over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024, was in excess of €800 million. This included investment of almost €160 million in State-owned public marine infrastructure. This funded a comprehensive range of supports to mitigate the impact of Brexit and enable the sector to adjust to operating post Brexit.”