Tuesday, 15 Oct 2019

Written Answers Nos. 1-65

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Questions (14)

Joan Burton

Question:

14. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee C, European Union including Brexit, last met; and when the Cabinet committee on Brexit, foreign and European affairs is scheduled to meet. [37565/19]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

Cabinet Committee C last met on Thursday, 21 June 2018.

Following a Government decision on 25th July 2019 on the establishment of Cabinet Committees, Cabinet Committee structures were reorganised.

A Cabinet Committee on Brexit, Foreign and European Affairs was established to ensure a coordinated approach in the areas of Brexit, Foreign and European Affairs, including Global Ireland 2025.

The Committee met for the first time on 10 September 2019 and is due to meet again before the end of the year.

Questions Nos. 15 and 16 resubmitted.

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Questions (17, 18)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

17. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee G, justice and equality, last met; and when the Cabinet committee on security is scheduled to meet. [38482/19]

Joan Burton

Question:

18. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on security is due to meet. [39684/19]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.

Cabinet Committee G (Justice and Equality) last met on 10 June 2019 and Cabinet Committee F (National Security) last met on 1 April 2019.

Since then a new Cabinet Committee on Security has been established which deals with issues relating to justice, defence, Garda reform and national security.

This Cabinet Committee was scheduled to meet on Thursday, 10th of October but the meeting was postponed as I travelled to England on that day to meet with the British Prime Minister. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee will be rescheduled in the near future

Question No. 19 resubmitted.

Legislative Programme

Questions (20)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

20. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the status of Bills under preparation in his Department [38484/19]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The sole Bill being prepared by my Department is the National Economic and Social Development Office (Amendment) Bill.

This Bill will provide for the dissolution of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) corporate framework which is no longer necessary. It also deals with related matters including the transfer of functions to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).

Work is underway to prepare the heads of a Bill but it is not a legislative priority for Government at present as it is a technical change which does not impact on the essential functions of the NESC.

Questions Nos. 21 to 28, inclusive, resubmitted.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (29, 30)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

29. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements regarding the candidature of Ireland for the UN Security Council. [39603/19]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

30. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent United Nations climate action summit. [39604/19]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.

I travelled to the US on 22 September for a five-day programme in New York and Los Angeles. My programme in New York centred around the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, where I joined Heads of State and Government from around the world for a series of events.

On Monday 23 September, I participated in the UN Climate Action Summit with Minister Bruton. I made a national statement outlining Ireland’s approach to climate action, including the Government’s commitments under the Climate Action Plan, our intention to ring-fence carbon tax revenue for climate action and just transition measures, as well as the climate aspects of our overseas development aid.

While at the UN, I also met a number of leaders to discuss Ireland’s candidature for a seat on the UN Security Council, including Heads of State and Government of Serbia, North Macedonia, Egypt, Lichtenstein, Senegal, Somalia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Vice President of Indonesia.

Questions Nos. 31 to 34, inclusive, resubmitted.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (35, 38, 39)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

35. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Mr. Donald Tusk when in New York; the issues that were discussed; and his plans to meet again before 17 October 2019. [39627/19]

Joan Burton

Question:

38. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent contacts with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. [39454/19]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

39. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the President of the European Council, Mr. Donald Tusk. [39605/19]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 38 and 39 together.

I attended the recent meeting of the UN in New York between 23 - 25 September, where I had the opportunity to meet with President Tusk.

We took stock of the most recent Brexit developments. President Tusk reaffirmed the EU’s solidarity with Ireland.

Following a phone call with UK PM Johnson on 2 October, I spoke by phone with Presidents Tusk and Juncker on 3 October.

Questions Nos. 36 and 37 resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 38 and 39 answered with Question No. 35.

Questions Nos. 40 to 53, inclusive, resubmitted.

Questions No. 54 to 64, inclusive, answered orally.

Fish Quotas

Questions (65)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

65. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the actions taken by Iceland in significantly increasing its mackerel share for 2019; the actions he and the EU Commission propose to take against Iceland for fishing in this unsustainable manner; if the revised ICES advice for mackerel stocks will form the basis for setting an increased TAC for Ireland in the 2020 fisheries quota talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41760/19]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In July 2019, Iceland communicated its decision to the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) to increase its unilateral quota for mackerel for 2019 from 107,000 to 140,000 tonnes. As a result, the share of the Icelandic unilateral quota has effectively increased to 21.5% of the overall TAC. Since 2014, they have had an average unilateral TAC of 16.5% - well in excess of the amount set aside for the three parties outside the agreement.

I am strongly opposed to this latest action by Iceland. Ireland, as the second largest shareholder in the EU, has led calls for strong measures to be taken in response to this unilateral and unsustainable action. The parties to the 2014 agreement, EU, Norway and Faroes have jointly written to Iceland demanding that they reverse this action. The situation has been exacerbated by both Greenland and Russia also increasing their unilateral quotas, albeit at a lower level. The EU, Norway and Faroes have also written to those countries.

The issue has been discussed at the Council Fisheries Working Party on a number of occasions and I also raised the matter at the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg this week.

The advice from ICES for the Total Allowable Catch for 2020 is 922,064 tonnes. This would equate to a 41% increase on the 2019 TAC of 653,438 tonnes. In my view, there is absolutely no reason for the full ICES advice not to be applied and this is the position that Ireland will be arguing for at the consultations taking place in London this week.