I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I was speaking to him this morning in advance of the debate. He sends his apologies. He has to attend a meeting with the UK fisheries minister this morning. He will be in direct contact with the Deputy in the coming days on the matter. I hope that provides some level of reassurance. I will deal with the answer now, but at the top, it was important to make that point. I stress that the Government is fully committed to maintaining support for our important inshore fishing sector and promoting the sustainability of fish stocks, as outlined in our programme for Government. The Deputy has already covered much of this background, but she will appreciate that I want to read it into the record. In December 2018, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced that vessels measuring more than 18 m would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six-nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period for vessels of more than 18 m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six-nautical mile zone. Policy directive No. 1 of 2019 was issued by the Minister to the independent licensing authority for sea fishing boats to give effect to these measures. This decision to exclude vessels of more than 18 m from trawling inside the six nautical miles was the subject of extended legal proceedings further to a judicial review to the High Court taken by two applicant fishermen challenging the validity of the policy. Following the final judgment of the Court of Appeal in this matter in 2023, where the applicants succeeded on the narrowest of grounds, policy directive No. 1 of 2019 was quashed and no longer has legal effect. On the basis of legal advice received in respect of next steps, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine decided to proceed anew with a public consultation on a review of trawling activity inside the six-nautical mile zone and the baselines. The purpose of the consultation was to invite stakeholders and interested parties to advise of their views on any potential changes to policy within the scope of this review. Due to the lengthy legal proceedings, it had been more than five years since the original scientific and economic advice was compiled. Therefore, up-to-date scientific and economic advice was sought from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, respectively, on trawling in the waters inside six nautical miles and the baselines prior to public consultation. The consultation opened in February 2024 and took place over a period of eight weeks, closing in April 2024. The consultation took place without prejudice. The Minister is conscious of the dependence of our onshore fleet, compared with larger vessels, on fishing resources within the six nautical mile zone. The policy context has changed since 2018. The Minister encouraged all interested parties to read the consultation documents and to reflect on them when making any submissions. The volume of submissions received during the new 2024 consultation was considerable, as the Deputy has already alluded to. Some 5,500 submissions were received, which was more than six times greater than the submissions received during the 2018 consultation, further highlighting the increased public interest in the matter. These submissions will be used to inform a review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines. The sheer volume of detailed submissions takes time to collate and fully analyse. All relevant issues will be carefully considered before a decision can be made. Given the history of litigation in respect of this matter, it is critical that all of the necessary procedural and legal steps are taken before any final decision is made. I reiterate that the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, sends his apologies. He is in the UK to meet the fisheries minister. He would have liked to have taken this debate. He will make direct contact with the Deputy over the coming days.

Sentiment score: 0.20

I again thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As I already stated, I am taking it on the behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who will be in direct contact with the Deputy in the coming days. He would like to have been here to take the debate in his capacity as the Minister of State with responsibility for this area but had a prior arrangement to meet the minister for fisheries in the UK. This Government is fully committed to maintaining support for the important inshore fishing sector and promoting the sustainability of fishing stocks as outlined in the programme for Government. The review of trawling policy inside six nautical miles is ongoing. The 5,500 submissions received are being given due consideration. The updated scientific and economic analysis from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara will be factored into any decision. It takes time to get it right. I must stress that given the history of litigation in respect of the previous policy directive, it is vital that all necessary procedural and legal steps are taken before any final decision is made. I take this opportunity to emphasise that this matter is of the utmost importance to this Government. I assure the Deputy that my Department is doing everything to progress this as expeditiously as possible.

Sentiment score: 0.29

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for public expenditure and reform, Jack Chambers TD. The community and voluntary sector plays a vital role in delivering public services across Ireland. Various organisations in the community and voluntary sector are contracted to provide services on behalf of the State and are provided with funding for this purpose. These organisations are not public service bodies, nor are they employees of these organisation public servants. Accordingly, their terms and conditions, including remuneration, are a matter for the individual employers and employees as part of the employment relationship. The number of staff employed in the community and voluntary sector as a whole is difficult to determine but it is estimated to be up to 100,000. The level of State funding received by these organisations, and the extent to which it is supplemented by other sources, such as philanthropy or fundraising, varies significantly from one organisation to another. For many organisations in the sector, the majority of their funding ultimately comes from the State. They do great work. Generally, this funding is used to service payroll and other organisational costs. These organisations include section 39 bodies, which receive grant funding from the HSE through the Departments of Health, and Children, Disability and Equality to provide health and disability services under section 39 of the Health Act 2004. Section 56 bodies receive funding from Tusla, through the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, for child and family services under section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Section 10 bodies receive funding from local authorities for homeless accommodation and related services under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. In October 2023, unions representing workers employed by organisations grant funded in line with section 39 of the Health Act 2004, section 56 of the Children and Family Agency Act 2013 and section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 secured agreement at the WRC for an increase in funding for these organisations, which would allow them to provide for an 8% increase in pay to their employees. The last increase under this agreement was 3% paid on 1 March 2024. The agreement reached provided for further engagement that would have regard to building momentum and other public service pay agreements. This year, agreement was reached on 10 March at the WRC following talks led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality on the management side with unions representing sections 39, 56 and 10 workers. This agreement set out that funding would be made available to provide for an increase of 9.25% on a phased basis between 1 October 2024 and 1 October 2026. This agreement was accepted in a ballot of union members. The agreement addresses the funding required to move the pay of such workers in line with current and future public service pay agreements, while respecting the fact that such workers are not public service employees. The agreement provides for an increase in funding of 9.25% on a phased basis and runs to 31 October 2026. This is in line with the general round increases provided for in the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. The agreement provides that funding will be adjusted to allow for the application of equivalent general round pay adjustments as provided for in any successor agreement to the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. In addition, the adjustment will be in line with the phasing of any future public service pay agreements. The agreement reached was accepted by union members in these organisations. It also provides for a data gathering exercise to allow for the application of the low pay provisions in future public service pay agreements for the funding of these organisations.

Sentiment score: 0.37

I again thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As I have stated, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for public expenditure and reform, Deputy Chambers. Given how diligent Deputy McGrath is, I have no doubt he has already taken the matter up with the Minister. I ask him to outline the specific circumstances to the Minister directly following the debate. As I mentioned, the community and voluntary sector plays a vital role in delivering essential public services across Ireland. These organisations, while funded by the State, are not public service bodies and their staff are not public servants. Their pay and conditions are set by their employers and not through public service agreements. I acknowledge these organisations do great work. This year, agreement was reached following discussions led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality at the WRC. This agreement addressed the funding required to move the pay of such workers in line with current and future public service pay agreements while responding to the fact that such workers are not public servants or employees. This agreement provides for an increase in funding of 9.25% on a phased basis and runs until 31 October 2026. This is in line with the general round increases provided for in the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. The agreement provides that funding will be adjusted to allow for the application of the equivalent general round pay adjustments as provided for in any successor agreement. Adjustment will be in line with the phasing of any future public service sector pay agreement. The agreement also allows for future adjustments in line with any successor public service pay deals. There will be a data gathering exercise to support the application of low pay provisions in the future. The data gathering exercise will provide a basis for examining the application of the low pay provisions in future public service pay agreements to the funding for non-public service organisations. The public service agreement provides that minimum increases are attached to four of the seven general round increases provided over the two and a half year period covered by the agreement. This is a significant step in recognising the contribution of workers in the sector, ensuring the sustainability of the services they provide.

Sentiment score: 0.34