Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Browne. I do not agree that it is a policy of supervised decline. Everything I am doing as Minister is to support the sector. That includes fighting to try to get additional quota at European level and protect the sector against the challenges posed by Brexit, as well as seeking to ensure we have a sustainable industry in the future, one that is based on sustainable fish stocks that will be available to fish not just this year but for many years into the future. That is the entire objective here.

There is no doubt that the impact from Brexit has been a once-in-a-generation event. It has been a real impact and we have fought hard, with the industry, to try to mitigate, in the first instance, the potential damage from Brexit and to address the damage it has caused since, both at European level and at national level. As I said in relation to the task force report, we are bringing together the brains and experiences of the fishers to advise and plot out a way forward to maximise our strength, grow our quota and address the challenges posed by the reduced quota arising from Brexit. The proposal from the task force on decommissioning, for example, was designed to increase the quota for the remaining boats and make them more sustainable on the basis that there would be fewer boats in the fleet. That was the rationale and logic behind the proposal. It is obviously not a position that any of us want to be in. I will continue to do all I can in the time ahead to increase that quota, particularly with regard to the Common Fisheries Policy review that is coming up.

If fishing capacity is taken out with public aid, EU law makes clear that it must be removed from the fleet in terms of vessel numbers and cannot be banked. The industry is very much aware of that when we recommend decommissioning. The objective behind it was to provide more quota opportunity for the boats that remain. We are undoubtedly in a challenging time. I have recognised from the outset the threats that were posed by Brexit. I am working with the sector to try to address this. However, this is about ensuring there is a sustainable future for fisheries and young people.