Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The difficulty is that the tie-up scheme would not have been available to the inshore sector. It would have been available to offshore fishers. The criticism from the inshore sector was in terms of the overall BAR, about which the Minister has responded in respect of parliamentary questions. There was a significant amount of BAR funding that had to be returned. Their argument is that they got a small percentage of the overall BAR fund allocation and were facing serious challenges. Many things were happening. We have talked about the pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine. There has been hit after hit on the sector.

I appreciate that Bord Iascaigh Mhara felt the need, as was its right, to respond to criticism. It is a welcome and substantive response. The issue, as the Minister knows because he has engaged directly with the sector, is that it is in real financial crisis. They do not only need funds or grants to upgrade their vessels, which they always need, at this stage. We are beyond the point where they are looking for grants to upgrade vessels or for training. As the Minister alluded to, the landscape has changed in terms of everything that would have been planned for implementation of the inshore strategy. We are now in a space where the sector will need ongoing financial subsidy per active boat. I am saying that is where we need to be, and that is the reality. I asked about the volume landed, the capacity and the number of boats. It is clear from speaking to inshore fishermen all around the coast that we are in an unprecedented and existential crisis. I do not get a sense that is fully appreciated, from the Minister's response to parliamentary questions and his evidence today. We need a swift response and intervention.

If what is happening in the fisheries sector were happening in agriculture, I do not believe there would be the same delay in responding. Maybe it is about the number of fishermen versus the number of people involved in farming and is a political calculation. I believe the Government's response is not at the level required. I read through the Minister's statement in advance. I also read a reply to a recent parliamentary question. There is no reference in either to market disturbance or a major drop in income. It does not capture how serious the position is. Reference is made to supports for capacity building, upgrading and ongoing stuff people do with their vessels, which was always there through Bord Iascaigh Mhara. I ask the Minister to reflect on that. I have more questions, but I will give way because colleagues are waiting. I will come back at the end. Like me, the Minister represents a coastal community. It is what we have known all of our lives. We are surrounded by it. Not just in government but also in the media, there seems to be a complete lack of awareness. I know that these inshore fishermen have reached out to national media outlets, but the latter did not cover it. They did not want to know. I do not believe that would happen in any sector of agriculture. It is almost as if our fishing and coastal communities do not matter to this island nation. I do not exaggerate, and other Deputies here engaged in this sector will confirm it. This is an unprecedented crisis and every fisherman needs financial assistance at this stage, but I do not see that being on the table.