Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his presentation and wish him well in the negotiations. I wish to make a few points, of which the Minister is probably aware as we had a conversation about this issue at the committee not long ago.

Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of fish are caught annually in Irish waters. Some 20% of the total catch is allocated to Irish boats, while 80% goes to others from abroad. Currently, 5% of all fish caught in Irish waters is processed in the State. Of the 250,000 tonnes caught by Irish vessels, only 50,000 are processed, which is, of course, where the value is added. These are unbelievable statistics. Can the Minister imagine the loss the State is facing because of this? We must have a conversation about it now in the context of Brexit. The committee heard the presentations made by the fishing organisations which were deeply alarming on the potential impact of Brexit and the denial of access to British waters. If the removal of access to British waters materialises, as the British Government has indicated will be the case, will the Minister to ensure it will not trigger displacement? In other words, under no circumstances can the EU boats currently fishing in British waters be transferred to Irish waters as we would be squeezed even further. Considering the stark realities of the percentage of fish caught by Irish boats in our waters, the tiny percentage processed in the State and the huge potential loss of income, will the Minister give the committee a clear assurance that his objective in the negotiations is that we will not concede any further in the context of Brexit? We must make it clear now that under no circumstances will the fleets currently operating in British waters be squeezed into Irish waters. I appreciate that the Minister must negotiate on these matters, but I wish be given an assurance that this will be the objective of the Government.