Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
156. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that Ireland has not secured any of the substantial increases in Atlantic bluefin tuna quota allocated to the European Union fishing fleets over recent years; and if he will publish all correspondence from his Department to the relevant European Union authorities over recent years aimed at securing such quota for Ireland. [6869/22]
View answerThe available Bluefin Tuna quota is allocated each year to Member States on the basis of relative stability as established in the late 1990s. As the Deputy is well aware, at that time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for Bluefin Tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation.
The only way to obtain a share of the EU quota now would involve changing relative stability within the EU and would require a majority of Member States to agree under the qualified majority voting system. This means that EU Member States with a national quota would have to give up a share of their allocation to Ireland. Ireland would also undoubtedly be expected to give up a commensurate share of another stock in order to facilitate this change. Any change to relative stability would involve a loss for some other Member States and therefore poses particular challenges in a qualified majority voting context.
The CFP is reviewed every 10 years and the next review is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year when the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP. I have made clear that this review must be detailed and comprehensive. At EU level, all stakeholders have an opportunity to engage actively in the review work including the fishing industry, eNGOs and Member States.
I am committed to doing all possible through the review of the CFP to secure additional quota where possible for Irish fishers. Yesterday, I announced the establishment of Common Fisheries Policy Review group of relevant stakeholders to examine the issues that arise for Ireland and advise me on priorities for the EU negotiations. The Group will be chaired by Mr. John Malone, former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, and assisted by a steering committee comprising Mr. Micheál Ó Cinneide, former Director of the MI and EPA and Mr. Donal Maguire, former Director in BIM. The Group will involve representatives of key stakeholders, including industry representative groups and the environmental NGOs.
