Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The EU regulation establishing the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund was published on 20 May 2014. Following months of intense lobbying and negotiation, the Minister announced on 12 June 2014 that he had secured €148 million from the new fund for the period 2014 to 2020 for the development of the Irish seafood industry and the coastal communities that depend on it. This funding is more than double the amount that was available to Ireland during the last Common Fisheries Policy and will ensure a strong seafood industry in Ireland that can grow and expand to meet its potential up to 2020. Ireland’s EMFF allocation is to be provided through five discrete funding envelopes, namely €71 million for investment in the seafood industry, €32 million for data collection, €37 million for control and enforcement, €5 million for implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy, and €1.3 million for storage aid. I will be discussing with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the near future Exchequer matching funding, having regard to the general budgetary situation for the coming years.

The EMFF will provide support for our fishing fleet to meet the challenges of the new discards ban. It will support the development of the seafood processing sector, a sustainable aquaculture industry and the communities that depend on a vibrant seafood industry.

My Department has been working since 2013 on developing a new operational programme setting out the arrangements for spending Ireland’s allocation under the fund and has engaged with stakeholders on a number of occasions to date. Further public consultation and strategic environmental assessment will take place over the summer of 2014. The new operational programme must be submitted to the European Commission for adoption before the end of 2014.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Article 35 of the EMFF regulation provides for a contribution from the operational programme to a mutual fund established by fishermen or their representatives. Such a mutual fund may pay financial compensation to affiliated fishermen for economic losses caused by adverse climatic events or environmental incidents or for the rescue costs for fishermen or fishing vessels in case of accidents at sea during their fishing activities. I am minded to make provision in the operational programme for such a mutual fund contribution. This is subject to final decisions on overall priorities for the seafood sector and to ex anteevaluation by independent consultants of the appropriateness of such a measure. In addition, the contribution will be subject to matching funds being provided by fishermen, as required by the regulation.

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