Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is very concerning that ICES is getting its advice so wrong. The advice it gave last year, which contributed to the formulation of the 2019 TAC, was off the mark by 50% in respect of mackerel. The decision in May to revise the TAC advice from ICES to 20%, as the Minister stated, was not incorporated into the TAC for the Irish fishing fleet. It is now essential that we see the full advice from ICES for this year, which refers to catches of 922,000 tonnes for mackerel, and that should be the mark used to determine the TAC for the Irish fleet for this year. It is essential that the baseline for the 20% increase recommended by ICES is the revised position it gave in May and not the 2019 TAC, as agreed and set at the end of last year.

The Minister indicated his position on ensuring that the total catch is 922,000 tonnes, which is the correct one and one which we support. Can he enlighten us on his engagement so far with other states as to the likelihood of that being the TAC at European level with partner states for the coming year?

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