Ar an chéad dul síos, is mian liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl d’Oifig an Cheann Comhairle as ucht deis a thabhairt dom an cheist seo a ardú mar Shaincheist Thráthúil ag an am seo anocht. I refer to the question of a reduction in pelagic quotas - there are demersal quotas - in particular mackerel, blue whiting and boarfish. Drastic reductions were recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, for 2026. I repeat my gratitude to the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, Deputy Timmy Dooley, for responding to a request to meet an organisation in Killybegs on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago. Fishermen from Donegal, Galway and the south west were present and the Minister of State listened attentively to all of them. It was not his first visit – I understand it was his sixth visit to Killybegs within a short time. Producers and processors made very clear to him the detrimental effects of the proposed quotas. Over the past number of years, Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and, to an extent since Brexit, the UK, have fished 1 million tonnes of mackerel. In some years, Norway alone overfishes its quota by 55%. This has led directly to a proposal from ICES to reduce the total allowable catch of mackerel by 70%, blue whiting by 41% and boarfish by 22%. This has the potential to cost Ireland over €150 million in lost catches at the first point of sale. Of course, with the added value the figure would be much greater than that. Our catching sector is facing the biggest cuts in its history in real terms in 2026. It is equivalent to the cumulative impact of four years of Brexit. While Ireland generally was pleased that Brexit got over the line, once more the fishing industry suffered as a result. I met Michel Barnier, who negotiated at the time, and told him in this House, in the dining room, that I was extremely concerned for the future of the fishing industry. He looked me straight in the eye and said I could take it that it would not be affected because fishing and trade would be inextricably linked. I believed the man. Of course, I advocated at the time that we should have threatened to veto Brexit because of the implications for the fishing industry. That was not a popular thing to do at the time. There was a bigger picture. Had we threatened to do that at the time, I have no doubt that there would not have been such drastic reductions in those quotas as a result of Brexit. It is a very serious situation for the country, in particular the most peripheral parts where there are no alternative sources of employment. I know the Minister of State will do his utmost and will hold bilateral meetings with many other countries in Europe. We must ensure that we convince Europe to put sanctions in place for the sale of fish from Norway into the European Union. I will deal with that later.

Sentiment score: -0.00

Europe has been weak in coastal states. The very same Norway will attempt to gain access to fish blue whiting west of Ireland in the next number of weeks. We must oppose that completely and convince Europe to support us in the actions the Minister will take. Market access and trade restrictions for fish products need to be fully applied against Norway, as well as the Faroe Islands and Iceland. That can be done under regulation 1026/2012. It needs to be fully applied by the Commission. We cannot have these coastal states destroying a shared fishery and expect to have zero consequences. The damage has been done and I can say hand on heart that in my years involved in fish processing and as Minister of State and as a TD for Donegal and Killybegs, they have complied fully with the restrictions and the regulations that have been laid down, whereas these other countries have fished indiscriminately and, as a result, we now find ourselves in the situation we are suffering. The European Union must apply the necessary sanctions under Regulation 1026/2012 and hopefully then they will come to the realisation they cannot continue like this. Brexit hurt us and the TAC costs our fishermen in the region of €220 million. It is not all about the fishermen alone; it is about the many who work in the factories to supplement their other income from small farming. It is just a disaster and I do not think anyone fully appreciates this. It is for everyone in Government and the Minister in particular, and if it has to go to the European Council then so be it. It is too serious for Ireland to sit back and accept the consequences. I wish the Minister of State well in his endeavours.

Sentiment score: 0.03