Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1566. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to safeguard the Irish fishing industry in the context of Brexit; the contingency plans in place to support the sector in the event of no EU-UK agreement being reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33928/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to assure the Deputy that Fisheries is a very important priority for Ireland. We are seeking to protect the interests of the Irish fleet in terms of both quota share and access to 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 negotiation mandate and the draft EU legal text. This Government fully supports the EU negotiating mandate to maintain quota shares and current access going forward.
Since taking office, I have held meetings with both Michel Barnier and the Fisheries Commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius by video link. I have made it clear to both Mr Barnier and the Commissioner that we are placing our full reliance on them to deliver 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 12th October, 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
In the event that a Fisheries Agreement between the UK and the EU is not put in place by the end of 2020 (the EU has specified that such an agreement must be agreed in the overall context of future partnership), the key issues for the Irish fishing sector are the potential loss of access for Irish and other EU vessels to the UK fishing zone, the need to ensure ongoing protection of fish stocks in the waters around Ireland from a subsequent increase in fishing activity and potential supports for the seafood sector to meet the challenges they may face. It is important to be aware that, if a fisheries agreement is not agreed, the EU and Ireland could also face a loss of quota share. In this situation, it will be necessary for a co-ordinated European response to ensure a proportionate and equitable use of mitigation measures for the EU fishing fleet, overseen by the EU Commission.
Following the threat of a UK departure without a Withdrawal agreement, the EU Member States prepared an EU Brexit Contingency plan that was published on the 10th April 2019. This highlighted fisheries as one of the most immediately critical issues facing the EU in a no-deal Brexit. In the event of a Fisheries Agreement is not agreed, we could immediately face the situation of the UK deciding to deny EU fishing vessels from EU waters in 2021.
I am preparing for all scenarios, while strongly supporting the negotiation of a Fisheries agreement in line with the negotiating mandate. I will be seeking additional EU funds to support mitigation measures if they become necessary. In that regard, the €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund agreed as part of the EU budget for the next seven years recognises that if a future relationship agreement is not in place, it will be essential to provide financial support to counter unforeseen and adverse consequences in Member States and sectors that are worst affected and this would clearly apply to the fisheries sector.
