I know the Deputy has a significant interest in this area. He has been in regular contact with me about the matter. As he will know, on 30 September, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea published its advice for widely distributed pelagic stocks for 2026. The ICES advice forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing total allowable catches and informs the EU's negotiating position for consultations with third countries such as the UK. As the Deputy has identified, the advice suggests a reduction of 70% for mackerel, 41% for blue whiting and 22% for boarfish. The scale of the reduction in the ICES-recommended total allowable catches for these important pelagic stocks is deeply concerning and will impact significantly on the Irish seafood sector. Ireland has repeatedly raised the overfishing of mackerel by some coastal states outside the EU over recent years. I will continue to highlight this critical issue for our fishermen and fisherwomen and to engage intensively with the European Commissioner for fisheries and other member states on possible actions to protect our stocks. I met with concerned fishermen and fisherwomen in Killybegs on Sunday, 5 October, to hear their concerns regarding the advice. Last week, I met with relevant stakeholder groups as part of the annual sustainability impact assessment process. I also attended the committee today to discuss the same issue. That meeting with stakeholders provided a further opportunity to discuss the scientific advice and other challenges facing the sector. The Deputy knows those other challenges because he has identified them. The sustainability impact assessment, which involves a public consultation process along with expert contributions from the Marine Institute and BIM, is an essential step in Ireland’s preparation for the fishing opportunity negotiations. I presented the assessment to the Oireachtas joint committee today. The programme for Government emphasises the valuable role of fisheries in the future of our country and the communities that rely on this activity for their livelihood. I will be engaging further with stakeholders at this critical time to ensure their interests are robustly represented at domestic, European and international level. I assure the Deputy that I am committed to working closely across Government Departments to assess what supports may be available to the seafood sector in the context of EU state aid rules and within the constraints of both EU and national Exchequer funding. To this end, I have had initial discussions with the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

Sentiment score: 0.23

The Deputy is right. Over the past five years, 1 million tonnes more than advised was caught. If you go back over ten years, I believe it would be 2 million. It has been consistent. The Union has accepted it and, as a result, we are seeing destruction prevail. The word "Armageddon" has been used and it is hard not to accept that when you consider the impact on Ireland, particularly with regard to pelagic stock and the loss of 26% of our mackerel quota in the Brexit negotiations. Those negotiations were difficult and had a very significant negative impact. Last year, we had a 20% cut in our mackerel quota based on scientific advice. These two losses combined were significant. This year, the remainder is to be cut by 70%. In my view, it is not an exaggeration to use the word "Armageddon". It is a clear reality. The responsibility on Government now is to move quickly to secure what we can at European level at the December meeting of the Council and to determine how best to give direction to the sector as to how we are going to manage the allocation of the quota with Norway. We can then look at what supports are available within the significant restraints imposed by state aid rules. I look forward to working with the Deputy and others on this matter.

Sentiment score: -0.05

As the Deputy will know, a review of the Common Fisheries Policy has been initiated. That may lead to changes in time. The issue of Norway's unilateral grab of quota certainly has to be prosecuted outside of DG MARE and the discussions around fish quotas. It is often raised with me by those within the sector that, where mackerel is used as a feedstock for the production of fishmeal, it finds its way back into the European market through tariff-free salmon from Norway. That is anathema to how we should be managing our resources. Wider discussions will have to take place across various different directorates. I know colleagues are discussing this issue at Government level. We need to come forward with a whole-of-government response rather than a response from the silo of fisheries alone.

Sentiment score: -0.04