Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
769. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to establish the proposed stakeholders forum to review the Common Fisheries Policy from an Irish perspective; the number of members he plans to place on the forum; the criteria that will be set in place to become a member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61333/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulation 1380/2013 (the basic Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) regulation), sets down that the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP by the end of 2022.
I have made it clear, most recently during the Commissioner's recent visit, that the CFP must take stock of the disproportionate impacts imposed on the Irish fishing industry by Brexit and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). I continue to keep the focus on the disproportionate quota reductions for Ireland under the TCA and to use any opportunity available to seek constructive solutions that would help to alleviate this unacceptable position, including keeping a strong focus on the matter within the Fisheries Council. I am fully committed to doing all possible through the CFP review to secure additional quota where possible for Irish fishers.
The Commission published a proposal on 6 July proposing an amendment to extend the derogation for access to EU Member States 12 miles zones up until the end of December 2032. It also removed the provisions relating to access for the UK, which are now covered in the TCA. I consider that this important element of the CFP should be dealt with the by the Commission as part of the full CFP review and form part of the formal review and the Commission report to Council and Parliament on the functioning of the CFP. I have written to the Commissioner to make Ireland’s concern and our position clear.
It is expected that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage actively in the Commission's review over the coming period, including the fishing industry, eNGOs and Member States. However, the European Commission has not yet published details of the review process or how Member States and stakeholders will engage in this process. Once we have a clear picture of the process and timelines of the review, I will finalise details of how Ireland will participate actively and effectively in the review of the CFP, including the interaction with stakeholders, to prepare Ireland's case and identify priorities. In that regard, I intend to nominate the key stakeholders to participate in a stakeholder forum.
