Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad to hear the Minister is going to review the quota. I am here long enough to remember when the quota was given to the fishermen with the big boats. I remember the controversy about the allocations that were made and where it went and where it did not go. To be fair, a small quota for the inshore fishers would make a great difference. As far as I am concerned, the big boats have enough quota, but I know they will disagree with me. We are trying to keep rural Ireland alive. We are trying to keep jobs in the sector. We are trying to keep people alive in rural Ireland. To be fair to the Minister, he dealt with some of the issues that arose in the task force. One thing that he could do, which would send out a very strong message, would be to give a small bit of quota to the small inshore fishers. It would be a strong message to come out. It would show that the strategy is working. It would also show that the Minister is listening. To be fair, he is listening. I know he comes from a similar area to me and that the same problems exist in Donegal. I ask him to look again at the quota. It would make a massive difference to the small guys if they got a bit more quota. They would use it and fish it. They have said very clearly that if they do not use the quota, they will give it back. The Minister should test them now by giving them some quota and a chance to survive. I hope that is something he will do because it is like every other area of business, the bigger guys always survive but the smaller guys need support. They need more help now than they ever needed before. They have suffered in recent years between Brexit, Covid and the fuel and energy crises, which are hurting them big time. This evening, the one issue I want to ask the Minister to try to deal with is the quota.