Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and his officials for appearing before us yet again. I have just a few questions with regard to fishing. I am from west Cork, which is obviously a significant area for fishing. There are savage and serious concerns. I have been meeting the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation. My worry is that the Government will be once again caught off guard if it ignores warnings from organisations like the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation. In his speech, the Minister said that our whitefish fleet faces a 5% reduction in fishing opportunities, which will cost in the region of €1 million for places like Castletownbere. This will have very serious consequences for the fishing fleet in that town.

I will ask the Minister a few questions. Does he know how many UK vessels will leave our waters on 1 January? Does he have any indication of that figure at this stage? Will Ireland's fishing grounds be used as a bargaining chip for other EU fleets to gain access to the UK's coastal waters? There is a worry that it seems like colonialism is returning. Mr. Michel Barnier is offering 18% more fish to the UK. Whose fish is he giving away?

I concur with Deputy Mac Lochlainn with regard to the bluefin tuna quota. It seems like this is eluding Irish fishermen. Perhaps the Minister will explain in more detail why Irish fishermen have been continuously excluded from this quota while other European countries have been getting extra. The catch and release policy is of no benefit to the Irish fishing fleet. We need to seriously concentrate on that. If we start losing ground in areas - and it certainly looks like we are, given the 5% decrease I have mentioned - where are we going to make up ground? We have to make up significant ground somewhere. The bluefin tuna quota is an opportunity. It is something for which fishermen have been calling for quite some time but these calls seem to be falling on deaf ears. Will the Minister explain that?

The inshore sector in rural areas, including on peninsulas such as Mizen Head, needs a lot of supports. Will the Minister outline the supports these areas will get over the coming years? They may not be affected by Brexit as severely as other areas but fishermen feel that the supports offered to date are insufficient. They lost a lot equipment in the bad storms. I called on the then Minister, Deputy Creed, to put in place a compensation package but he never did. They lost gear. These are people who give a great deal to the local economy. They need to know if they have a future. That is what it boils down to. I would appreciate it if the Minister could answer some of those questions.