Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
730. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a separate whitefish tie-up scheme will be put in place for inshore boats that are not eligible for the primary whitefish scheme. [47499/21]
View answerIn March 2021, I established the Seafood Sector Task Force comprised of stakeholders from our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors, together with representatives of coastal community development groups, coastal local authorities, State enterprise development agencies and others. The remit of this Task Force is to examine the implications arising from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the UK for the Irish fishing industry and coastal communities particularly dependent upon it. I have asked the Task Force to outline initiatives that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.
In July 2021, I received an Interim Report of this Task Force which made some limited recommendations pending its full report which I expect to receive in the Autumn. While the Interim Report did not feature any specific recommendations relating to the inshore fishing sector, I understand that the Task Force is examining impacts of the TCA on the inshore sector as part of its deliberations.
I anticipate a Final Report from the Task Force shortly outlining its full recommendations.
