Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending. This is a very important meeting because we need information on this major issue. Brexit was always going to have a major impact on the fishing industry. A no-deal scenario would have crippled the industry at every level. This is a bad deal but a no-deal scenario would have crucified us.

Can the Minister elaborate on the timeline he is proposing in the context of getting the task force up and running? Will that require legislation or will it be done by means of a ministerial order? What will be the actual process relating to the establishment of this task force? How will its members be chosen and how it will be funded?

On the significant funding package from Europe, how much does the Minister believe will be made available to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which is the most affected of all Departments? Where does he see that kind of money being spent? It is a substantial amount of long-term money. What is the Minister's vision for that money in terms of this sector?