Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One of our key objectives was to ensure that there would be a deal which would avoid a hard border in Ireland and protect our national interests across the economy, including fishing. Every part of our economy, peace on our Island and fishing, in particular, were exposed as a result of Brexit. These were all included as key objectives. It was really important that we got a deal, not least from a fisheries point of view in that one third of our fish are caught in UK waters, significant displacement would have resulted from a no-deal and our 1,900 boats would not have been able to access UK waters. The Deputy knows, from a Killybegs point of view, how important that is and the impact it would have had. We always knew that there was a challenge in respect of fully protecting fish. It had been put up in lights as the key objective of the British Government in the negotiations. It was one of the key reasons given to British people during the Brexit campaign that they should vote for Brexit and take back control of the fish in their waters. As we know, throughout the negotiations the British were looking to take back 100% of the fish caught in their waters. The ultimate outcome was that 25% of the fish caught by the EU fleet in their waters would be reallocated and that, in return, mutual reciprocal access for the EU fleet to fish in UK waters would continue.

Many of the stock desired by British fishermen and Scottish fishermen are also desired by us. There are many valuable species, but mackerel and prawn are two of the most important and invaluable species for our fleet. They were the two that the British Government were really going after in the negotiations. We fought tooth and nail to ensure that the line was kept and that we would protect our fishing industry. Unfortunately, in order to achieve a deal, a reallocation of 25% was involved, and we bear the weight of that more disproportionately than other member states.

Looking across the rest of the economy, there is a recognition, as there was at the outset, that apart from Britain, the country most likely to be damaged and suffer from Brexit, was Ireland. This is the case very much in respect of our fishing sector, but also right across our economy. The Brexit adjustment reserve was allocated last week to countries most impacted by Brexit. The fishing industry is an element of that, but only a certain element of it. Ireland got 25% of that total EU fund. That is a reflection of the fact that our country's economy is most impacted by Brexit and that includes our fishing industry. At the European level, my objective is to fight for our fishermen and fisherwomen. That is ultimately what they want. I will also work alongside them in addressing what undoubtedly is the result of Brexit and the impact on our own fleet and those of others. In respect of our own fleet, I will invest, work with and involve them and seek direction on how to best I, as Minister, and the Government, can support them in the time ahead.