My question is to ask the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine about the plans he has to address the Commission's proposals to reduce, drastically, the pelagic total level catches.
Sentiment score: 0.00
An indication of the urgency was the Minister of State travelling to Killybegs last Sunday week to meet representatives of the sector from all parts of the country, from Donegal to Cork. There is no need to outline the utter devastation that will result from the reduction of the mackerel quota by 70% and blue whiting by 41%. Thousands of jobs in the sector will be lost. This is the same sector that paid the price to get Brexit over the line and listened to Michel Barnier telling us fish would not be affected and would be inextricably linked with trade. Of course, he threw the sector under the bus. I attended many Council of Ministers' meetings over the years, but this is the worst ever. Even if the reduction is less than 70%, it will make little difference. The Hague preferences will add very little. The Minister of State mentioned other countries. I make a charge that Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands acted irresponsibly in not accepting the advice of ICES. They are responsible for this, as is the UK now as well.
Sentiment score: -0.12
At this stage, it is not compensation we want; we want fish. The Minister of State will have to get the European Council to assist him. This is the first time this has happened. I go back to the days of Commissioner Damanaki, who was more in favour of Iceland than the European maritime states. The Minister of State's problem is that he will go into a Council of Ministers meeting and there will be ministers there from non-coastal countries. They will accept the advice of the Commission. He will have to work on them as well. He has to highlight to them the serious implications of this drastic cut. We think of fisherman and factory workers, but there are ancillary industries upstream and downstream that will lose out as a result. It is not compensation; it is fish we want. I wish the Minister of State well. He has the support of the sector and of a very active fisheries committee in his endeavours.
Sentiment score: 0.12