Holly Cairns
Question:378. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase the Irish fishers’ share of the EU fishing quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35186/21]
View answerWednesday, 30 June 2021
Questions (378)
Written answers
I can assure the Deputy that I, as Minister, and this Government continue to keep the focus on the disproportionate quota reductions for Ireland and to use any opportunity available to seek constructive solutions that would help to alleviate this unacceptable position.
I am pursuing every opportunity at EU level to increase the available quotas for our fishing fleet. I have raised the matter of inequitable burden sharing at EU level – most recently at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council this week – and in bilateral exchanges with the Commissioner and other EU Member States, whenever suitable opportunities arise, and I will continue to do so.
The Interim Report of the Seafood Sector Taskforce, published earlier this month and supported by all members of the Taskforce, recommends a range of actions to address the quota reductions in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
The actions include measures relating to Ireland working with other EU Member States on possible opportunities for increased quota shares for the EU in the upcoming Coastal States consultations and pursuing the rebalancing of quota in the context of the upcoming review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Interim Report indicates that the recommended actions, after further consideration by the Taskforce, will be set down in detail in the main Report.
The next CFP review is due to be completed by the 31st December 2022 and I am committed to doing all possible through the review to secure additional quota where possible for Irish fishers. At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council earlier this week I made clear that Ireland will be seeking to address the imbalance in the quota transfers under the TCA.
I will work closely with the Fishing Industry and in line with the recommendations of the final Seafood Taskforce Report to advance the position of the Irish fishing industry in the CFP Review.