Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
894. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider setting up a dedicated post-Brexit fisheries task force made up of community and industry stakeholders with the express purpose of urgently responding to the undue burden and hardship falling on the fishing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3963/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to assure the Deputy that I have listened carefully to the representatives of the industry and indeed I have met individual fishermen who are facing a difficult situation. I have reflected on how to ensure that the funding made available to the sector in the Brexit Adjustment Reserve is focused to meet the challenges of the sector and of the coastal communities most impacted.
I believe it is proper to set up a Task Force involving seafood industry representatives and other stakeholders to provide recommendations on the appropriate measures that will best support the sector and the local coastal communities. I intend to set out in the arrangements and the terms of reference for this Task Force as soon as possible.
I will ask the Task Force to focus immediately on possible arrangements for a temporary fleet tie-up scheme to counter the impacts of the reduction in quotas which will impact our fishing industry from the beginning of April.
The Task Force will, I hope, also provide recommendations on a range of other actions and measures that will allow the sector and the coastal communities to adjust and develop so that both the direct and downstream future impacts on the wider seafood sector can be taken into account.
