The EU fisheries deal represents another serious failure on the part of the Government to adequately defend Ireland's fishing interests. While the impact will be felt right across the State, it is coastal communities in places such as Killybegs in my constituency, Kilcar and elsewhere that will feel it most acutely. The Seafood Ireland Alliance is warning that this could mean a €200 million hit for the Irish fishing industry. If the Minister of State thinks that jobs will not be lost as a result of this, he is living in denial. It is an extraordinary figure. The consequences for Killybegs and many other areas and coastal areas will be profound. Under this new deal, the safeguards of the Hague preferences were not applied. Larger member states resisted and Ireland did not secure their activation. We now face a situation where factories such as those in Killybegs, which operated three to five months of the year, could see their activity reduced to as little as ten or 12 days. The knock-on effect of that in terms of factories and jobs will be significant. It is not sustainable for workers, families, the community or local businesses. Similarly, vessels that should be at sea for extended fishing seasons may find themselves fishing for less than ten or 12 days before being tied up and parked in Killybegs for even longer than they already are. Our fishing industry is resilient. It has adapted to regulatory changes over and over again. Those in the industry have invested in modern vessels and processing capacity against all the odds. It is long past time that the Government stood up for the fishing industry and showed a bit of a backbone. The Government knew that other member states would defend their interests robustly. When the time came, Ireland did not secure the protections that exist precisely to prevent disproportionate harm. It is only right now to ask whether we are building alliances, preparing strategies or using every available lever to defend our national interests. There needs to be a three-pronged approach of attack. First, the Government must clearly set out what legal and diplomatic avenues remain open regarding the non-application of the Hague preferences. Second, there must be an immediate targeted financial support package for fishermen and seafood producers. Third, we need a strategic plan to secure Ireland's fair share of fish in our waters under the CFP. Fishing supports families who have worked Irish waters for generations, it sustains rural communities where alternative employment is limited and it contributes significantly to exports and food security. Our fishing industry does not want special treatment; it wants fair treatment. It wants the safeguards that were designed to protect it to be properly used. It wants a Government that approaches fisheries negotiation with the same determination that other states display. There is still time to mitigate the worst impacts of this deal but what it requires is decisiveness, transparency and, most of all, political will. This Government needs to stop abandoning the fishing industry and stand up and show a bit of a backbone.

Sentiment score: 0.04