Our fishing industry is not just an economic sector, but a backbone of many coastal communities. In 2026, those communities are facing an extraordinary challenge - a 70% reduction in mackerel, a 41% reduction in blue whiting and a 22% reduction in boarfish. These cuts are based on advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and were formalised at December's Agricultural and Fisheries Council. We have to be clear. The science is not the problem. The science reflects years of overfishing by certain third countries. Ireland is paying the price for unsustainable decisions made elsewhere. We will continue to press at an EU level for strong action, which we need to do, including the use of the unsustainable fishing regulation where necessary. Ireland cannot stand by idly while shared stocks are jeopardised. I want to place a focus and emphasis on what the Government is doing to support fishing families and coastal communities going forward. While the stocks recover, livelihoods have to be protected. I welcome that budget 2026 provided for €157 million to support fisheries and the marine sector. We have to continue to implement the €258 million seafood development programme under the European maritime, fisheries and aquaculture fund. It has to be said that this funding is not just abstract. It supports vessel modernisation, safety improvements, harbour infrastructure, processing competitiveness, environmental sustainability and young entrants into the industry. It is vital. Some €27 million has been allocated for capital projects in publicly owned harbours in 2026, and I welcome this investment. The Food Vision seafood sector group has been established to develop a structured financial support framework for catching, aquaculture and processing. A final support plan needs to be delivered by the end of the summer. That work is critical, and I commend the Minister of State on it. The impact of quota reductions is not confined to vessels at sea. It flows directly into processing plants, ice plants, transport operators, engineering firms, fuel suppliers and small businesses in coastal towns. If we allow processing capacity to decline during a temporary biological downturn, rebuilding it later will be far more difficult. That is why these supports need to focus not only on survival, but on maintaining strategic capacity in our industry. We have to remain committed to exploring incentives to encourage landing in Irish ports, examining taxation supports for the sector, supporting diversification in coastal economies, strengthening agriculture and streamlining licensing. At an EU level, negotiations need to be had for the next multi-annual financial framework. When that begins, Ireland needs to advocate strongly for ring-fenced funding for fisheries under the Common Fisheries Policy. Our coastal communities need certainty, not an annual sense of instability. Even in a difficult year, Ireland's fishing opportunities still amount to approximately 120,000 tonnes, with an estimated first-sale value of over €200 million. This is a sector with strength and resilience, but there is a fear that it really is being tested this year. It is of paramount importance that the Government understands that when fisheries suffer, entire communities around them suffer. I ask that we defend sustainability, demand fairness at an EU level, provide practical supports at home and ensure there is a viable future for the next generation of Irish fishers. Fisheries cannot be just about quota. They are about families, heritage and the economic survival of coastal Ireland in the counties that we represent, like Clare and Galway.

Sentiment score: 0.23