Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 12 June 2025

Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs

Extension of EU-UK Trade Agreement and Implications for the Irish Fishing and Seafood Industry: Discussion

2:00 am

Mr. Enda Conneely:

That tends to go back to the island heritage licence Bill that was progressed to an advanced stage a number of years ago, based again on the 2014 committee report.

That has to be revisited in light of the review of the Common Fisheries Policy as well. If we go back to the Iceland deal, we in IIMRO did not agree that Iceland, as a third country, should be allowed access. The Commission pointed out they are EU waters now, not Irish waters. We are very small there. We thought it was a risky proposition for Ireland to accept that at this level. We have to put our foot down on many different things. The issue of relative stability seems to be stuck in gear. It is like the Hague preferences. These things need to be revisited. It is not going to be pleasant for anyone, but this is a problem and if we do not deal with it, we will not have an industry.

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