Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests and apologise for missing the first session. I had another meeting and it ran on.

Without repeating what has been said, I contend Irish fisheries have been the poor relation in our relationship with the EU for too long. The core problem, as Deputy Mac Lochlainn said, is the notion of relative stability. It has been a burden that no Government has seriously tried to address.

I mean no disrespect to the Minister but his efforts in engaging with his fellow ministers at that level will not result in the type of sea change, or even shorter-term burden sharing, that is required. No other fisheries minister in Europe has an interest in or anything to be gained from trying to ensure a deal or change of that nature. Therefore, the approach needs to be Government-led and across all Departments when we engage with the EU.

If we seek fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in isolation, the answer will be "No". We must tie it in with other concerns, as other member states do on other matters all the time. We could say, for example, that we will not support any further EU treaty change unless the policy is also reviewed and reformed. We could indicate that we will not agree to other major fundamental reforms being pushed by the EU unless this also becomes part of the conversation. We have seen during the Brexit negotiations that for an Irish priority to become a European priority, it must be led by the Government.

This is not to say the Department does not have a fundamental role. I welcome Mr. Ward's response to Deputy Mac Lochlainn but do the other speakers agree with our analysis that there is a need for a Minister with responsibility for fisheries to ensure the approach I speak about can be prioritised within our Government in the first instance? I deal with the Department all the time and it is clear fisheries and the marine are the poor relation. Part of the problem undoubtedly arises because for a long period we have not had political leadership prioritising fisheries in the Department. I am interested in hearing the views of the witnesses on such matters. I thank them again for taking the time to attend this morning.