Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Ward. To his first point on the impact that this will have on communities, I absolutely get it. Having visited Killybegs and other fishing harbours and ports on a number of occasions since my appointment, Killybegs is the stand-out beacon of our pelagic sector - similar to Castletownbere, I suppose. Certainly, Killybegs has built up a phenomenal supply chain around the fishing industry. It is a great credit to the communities there and their ingenuity and capacity to adapt over the years. I accept that this kind of loss of quota will have a really negative impact. I am really mindful of that. I am not just taking it from a fishing perspective. I have spoken with Government colleagues and we will have to work through this, no more than the issue of Brexit and the loss of 20% of quota required a Brexit adjustment reserve fund. It was recognised both nationally and internationally that there was a very significant shock to the sector, albeit for a prolonged period of time. This is a 70% cut on top of that 20%. If it was appropriate to address the losses resulting from a 20% cut, then it follows that a 70% cut for a period of time should also be addressed. It is not clear from the science how quickly it will resolve. If this was a one-year shock and we knew some hiatus had caused it and that it was now back to normal, we could look at things differently. We could batten down the hatches and try to get through it. However, that is not the case here. I believe we have a very strong case and I will advance that on behalf of the sector and the industry. I know the challenges I face but I will not be found wanting in making the case. That is very clear.

As regards the zonal attachment, I am advised it is very difficult to nail down the migratory pattern of fish now. Some of it is due to changes in nature because of the changing temperature conditions. Zonal attachment is a very hard one to win out on.

As such, it is not something we have really pushed, nor do I think there is an appetite there for its adoption. My focus is a little bit different at the minute. It is on trying to maximise the allocation of quota. Like in any negotiation, you pick your strongest team, or you pick your strongest weapons when you go to war. To me, the Hague preferences are certainly what I will really have to die in the ditch on. That is the one we really have to push. Then it is about looking at the framework for support to get us through that period, and whether that is national or a combination of national and European.