Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Implementation of Irish Inshore Fisheries Sector Strategy 2019-2023: Discussion

5:30 pm

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We do not have it nationally. It is something I have been pressing at EU level. I would dearly like to secure it. I raise and press for it regularly at EU Council level. It is not something Ireland has a national quota for. In order to secure a quota for it, we need to have the support of two thirds of other member states to be able to get a slice of it. That is a tall order because we are dealing with one pie. If we start to get a percentage share of that pie, it means that others' share of the pie will diminish somewhat. As the Deputy will understand, any change in quota at European level is difficult considering two thirds of other member states are needed to vote in favour of that in order to have it. It is something I continue to pursue but, this year, as in previous years, we do not have a national quota for bluefin tuna.