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Fishing Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2019

Thursday, 18 April 2019

Ceisteanna (228)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had at EU level on the need to protect the fishing and seafood industry in view of the problems that will arise with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18295/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

This Government welcomes the decision of the European Council last week which prevented a no-deal outcome on 12 April and provides the UK with more time to ensure an orderly withdrawal.  However, we are continuing our preparatory work to take account of all possible outcomes due to the ongoing uncertainty.

The Government published a Contingency Action Plan on 19 December, setting out its approach to dealing with a no-deal Brexit.  It has already introduced a range of measures to deal with the short-term impacts of Brexit.  In terms of dealing with Competitiveness issues, my Department introduced a €150 million low-cost loan scheme and increased funding under the Rural Development and Seafood Development Programmes in the 2017 Budget.  In Budget 2018, I, along with my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, introduced a new €300m “Brexit Loan Scheme” to provide affordable, flexible financing to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future - at least 40% of which will be available to agrifood and seafood businesses.

Our enterprise agencies are continuing to work with seafood companies to help them to deal with Brexit through making them more competitive, diversifying market exposure, and up-skilling teams.

My priority has been, and remains, to maintain existing levels of access to waters and resources.  However, in a worst case scenario of a disorderly departure we can expect that those reciprocal arrangements will  be impacted, at least in the very short term.

In recent months, I have continued to have regular meetings with my European colleagues, especially those from the group of 8 Coastal Member States whose fisheries are potentially most impacted by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, as well as the European Commission.  I am also working closely with key stakeholders in the Irish fishing industry and am pleased at the level of unity on these key issues. 

The EU has adopted two contingency measures in the area of fisheries to cover all scenarios under a no-deal Brexit. On the one hand, the EU has created the appropriate legal framework in a no-Deal Brexit situation to allow UK vessels reciprocal access to EU waters throughout 2019, if the UK grants such access to EU vessels in its waters. On the other hand, the EU has also adjusted the eligibility criteria of the Fisheries and Maritime Fund, to ensure that fishermen who have to cease their activities – in case the UK does not grant continued access to its waters – can receive compensation. In such a case, it would be essential that Member States adopt a coordinated approach to ensure a level-playing field between EU fishermen in different Member States and to protect marine resources.

The EU Commission last week issued a Brexit Contingency Plan, agreed with Ireland and seven other impacted Member States, which sets out how fisheries would be managed in a no-deal Brexit.  It identifies the need for mitigation measures and, in particular, compensation for temporary tie up of fishing vessels.  It gives the EU Commission a strong co-ordination role.

This communication reflects the high level of planning by Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden working closely with DG Mare.  When I met Commissioner Vella last February, I emphasised the real risks of a concentration of fishing into  Ireland’s 200 miles fishing zone by EU fleets if they are excluded from UK waters.  I pointed out that inevitably this would lead to displacement of our own fleet and depletion of fish stocks if no action is taken.

I stressed to the Commissioner the need for a European approach to addressing this issue and agreed with him that the key Member States and DG Mare needed to put in place a contingency plan.  I have been working intensively over recent weeks, and have kept the fishing industry informed of the work to ensure that we are ready for this worst case situation, while always hoping that we will never need to call upon these plans.

We now have identified and agreed, co-ordinated and fully prepared measures that will be immediately available to address a no-deal Brexit situation, if the UK were to decide to deny EU vessels access to UK waters.  I am seeking additional EU funds to support this mitigation measure if they become necessary. If we need to call on these arrangements, it will be essential, as we have now agreed at EU level, that all involved EU fleets must co-operate under these structured arrangements to manage the situation. We have now agreed that the Irish fleet would not be disproportionately impacted and have ensured that each Member State impacted would take a fair share of the pain.

However, we remain firmly of the view that the best way to ensure an orderly withdrawal and fully protect the Good Friday Agreement, is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement.  A disorderly departure, that included a loss of access to UK waters, would have very serious consequence for our seafood industry.  I am satisfied that, in cooperation with our stakeholders and EU partners, we are doing all that we can to plan to mitigate the potential impacts.

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