Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
637. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the EU Common Fisheries Policy regarding the UK stance on zoning attachments; his view on supporting the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18285/20]
View answerI would like to assure the Deputy that Fisheries is an important priority for Ireland. We are seeking to protect the interests of the Irish fleet in terms of both access and the quota share it currently enjoys in UK waters. From the outset of the negotiations, Ireland and our EU partners have been clear on our level of ambition in this area and on the fact that progress on an overall trade deal is linked to progress on fisheries. This is reflected in the EU mandate and the draft EU legal text. This government fully supports the proposal to maintain the current access and quota shares going forward.
The EU position was the result of considerable internal discussion and reflects a delicate balance. In sum, we are seeking to uphold continued levels of reciprocal access and stable quotas. The UK Government has a very different approach. They emphasise their status as a “coastal independent state” and insist that new arrangements should be based on annual negotiations, which follow the principle of zonal attachment. Clearly, the two sides are still very far apart. This is very concerning to us – as is reflected in the EU mandate, one of our key priorities is to avoid economic dislocation for Union fishermen that have operated in UK waters. This remains our collective approach. The Task Force is continuing to push for better UK engagement on this area.
Since taking office, I have met with the Fisheries Commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius by video link. I made clear to the Commissioner that we are placing our full reliance on Mr Barnier and the Commissioner delivering on the agreed EU negotiation mandate that sets down clearly the EU objective to “uphold existing reciprocal access conditions, quota shares and traditional activity of the Union fleet.
I have also met with representatives of the Irish fishing industry on 22 July where I listened carefully to the clearly-articulated challenges facing the fishing industry in the context of Brexit. I made clear that I will be pressing for a fisheries agreement with the UK that upholds both existing quota shares and existing reciprocal access to UK waters. I will continue to press for the maintenance of the linkage of fisheries to the overall economic partnership agreement as this will be central to a successful agreement. I assured the industry representatives of my commitment and that of the Government to work towards a fisheries agreement with the UK that protects their interests and ensures a long term future for our coastal communities dependant on fisheries
Michel Barnier met in late May with Fisheries Ministers from Member States directly impacted by the UK withdrawal from the EU. There was clear consensus from Ministers, including from Ireland, on continued support for the EU mandate’s position on fisheries. The Government fully supports Mr Barnier in his role and we remain confident that Irish and EU fisheries interests will continue to be protected after the transition period has ended.
