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

I thank the Minister and the officials accompanying him. The sustainability impact assessment of fishing opportunities states the waters surrounding Ireland contain some of the most productive fishing grounds in the EU and that we have a duty of care and a national self-interest to protect our biological riches and, as such, they must be managed responsibly and sustainably. No one will argue with that. The problem is that we have not managed that in respect of Irish fishermen. Our waters are basically being raped by every nationality. They are taking our fish out of our country and they have our quotas, the quotas of good hard-working fishermen. Unfortunately, Irish fishermen's quotas are being swept out. We can see this in Castletownbere. There is a flow of Spanish lorries leaving Castletownbere every day of the week, travelling through west Cork to take Irish fish out of our waters and sweep them across Europe, which is sad in its own right. Our problems began prior to Deputy McConalogue's appointment as Minister but, especially since Brexit in 2020, Irish fishermen's problems have gone from bad to worse. It is a nightmare. We are kicking the can down the road to 2024 but perhaps the Minister will argue differently from me and will be able to prove that we can get increased quotas in our own water and a fair share. Instead of decommissioning, we should be look at building our fishing industry and encouraging our young people to take up fishing instead of running away from the job their parents worked for decades and decades.

I have a few questions. I respect that the Minister is talking about 2024 but I am worried about today for most of those who are finding things difficult. I have a couple of questions. On the EU fuel relief scheme for fishermen, the French and Spanish have taken it up but, while the Irish can take it up, we are refusing to do so. What is the reason for that? I raised this question with the Minister 12 months ago and I keep getting told by fishermen that they cannot take up this fuel scheme made available through European funds. They cannot be misleading to me. Surely to God, they are not lying to me. Why are Irish fishermen the only ones who cannot seem to take this up? They blame the Minister. He can deny that and tell me I am wrong. Perhaps there is something to be announced next week. I would be delighted if there was.

We also need to look at the fish weighing crisis. These are issues and problems that can be resolved today to help fishermen. I would love to think that things will be better for fishermen in 2024 and I sincerely hope they are but today is the biggest problem. The system for recording how much of each species of fish is landed in Ireland is illegal, flawed and not fit for purpose. Ireland biggest fish processor claims that it is reducing Ireland's quota, the amount of each fish species the EU says Irish fishermen can catch, by as much as 3%. This is because of a recording system introduced by the fisheries watchdog in December 2022. It is generating what the fishing industry says are inaccurate statistics on the species of fish landed. Detailed records seen by the Irish Examinerand other independent observers show that, since the new random weight and species sampling system was brought in, both fishermen and processors now record two different sets of figures, which is astonishing. There are two different sets of figures in the one country. One set is what processors say are derived from the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority's, SFPA's, sampling system, which regards each sample as a representative extrapolation of the entire catch.

The newspaper article continues:

The system operates either on the pier on landing or - if the fish producer has a special SFPA permit - inside the fish factory after being transported there from the harbour.

It is this set of figures that a number of fish producers are filing alongside a statement that they are only being filed “under duress” ...

The second set of figures being filed to the SFPA is what processors say are the accurate figures based on a system that has operated for decades.

The European Commission has said that it wanted the system reformed and better regulated. The article continues:

Issues with the SFPA random sampling system arise when pelagic fishermen land a mixed catch containing their target fish and what is known as their 'by-catch', made up of species they did not intend to catch. Mixed catches can account for around 70% of all catches.

That is all landings of Irish fish in Ireland but the article continues by saying that the industry that:

... when the by-catch is made up of a much smaller number of white fish than the SFPA system records, a disproportionate amount of white fish is being “unfairly” recorded as having been caught by pelagic fishermen.

Analysis of catch data by the industry and shown to the Irish Examinerclaims that 40% of by-catch sampling could be out by as much as 80%.

That is an astonishing figure. It is out by 80%. This has a knock-on effect of leading to cuts to the level of whitefish quota and the number of whitefish species the EU says fishermen can catch in any one year. The article continues: " ... the pelagic sector is predominantly based in Killybegs" and Greencastle in County Donegal, and "the white fish sector - which targets species such as cod, haddock, and hake - is based mainly in southern ports including Castletownbere and Union Hall in Co Cork and Dingle in Co Kerry." The article continues:

The fact that the species of fish being landed in Ireland is not being accurately recorded is a huge problem for the industry,” said Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association general secretary Brendan Byrne.

“We have told the SFPA their system does not work, and we have told Department of Agriculture officials.

“Our members believe they are being forced to make illegal statements to comply with the SFPA’s current sampling system.

“We believe the system is illegal and wrong and we are calling for an independent review of what is going on to not only stop it but also find out why it is being allowed to carry on.

Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation CEO Patrick Murphy said: “The fact that the SFPA sampling system is crediting pelagic fishermen with catching far more white fish than they have is very worrying.

“Ports like Castletownbere, which predominantly rely on white fish quotas to survive, are already struggling but what is happening in Killybegs is affecting us in Cork.”

Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation CEO Aodh O’Donnell said the success of the Irish fishing industry is being “hindered by a flawed and misguided set of control protocols”.

The fact is an independent review must be set up. The Minister has mentioned figures on the sustainable impact assessment of fishing opportunities in 2024. The best of luck to him in 2024 but the problem we have today is in 2023. In 2023 fishermen are going out of business. Decommissioning was set up and many fishermen felt like a gun was put to their head so they had no choice but to take that in 2022 and yet they still struggle in 2023. Will the Minister establish an independent review? He cannot be held responsible but an independent review would allow us to look at its findings which would be a move in the right direction. I also ask the Minister to establish a fuel relief scheme for fishermen. As I said, other countries are kicking up and we are afraid to kick up.

We need answers. The clock is ticking when it comes to the fishing industry in this country. I am not a fishermen but I am surrounded by fishermen and support them. Quite a lot of speakers here speak a lot about farming. I come from the farming sector and I respect colleagues for what they say but we need stronger voices in the Dáil when it comes to fishing. On budget day, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste spent 45 minutes speaking in the Dáil but never once mentioned the word "fishing", which is astonishing. Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin showed total and utter disregard to Irish fishermen by talking about everything any anything for 45 minutes. There was a tiny bit about agriculture but nothing was said about fishing. What is wrong? Why has the Government turned against the fishermen of this country? They need to turn that around.

I ask the Minister to establish an independent review of the weighing crisis. A review would be a start in the right direction. A review would mean people would feel that the Minister is fighting for them, backing them and working on their behalf. I would dearly appreciate if the Minister would do that and I ask him to talk about a fuel relief scheme for fishermen today.