Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her contribution and overview of the challenges. On the Deputy's final point on producer organisation status for smaller groups, I certainly will work with them in trying to facilitate them where appropriate. Recently, I met the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation, which has made an application and represents approximately 40 vessels. I am working with it. It is important that we can facilitate producer organisations, as they are a very important way to ensure fishermen are represented and engage with the Government.

On the point regarding reregistering Northern Irish boats, the Deputy heard my contribution earlier on this. Unfortunately, Brexit has radically altered the legal position between Britain and the EU and the particular arrangement in place for Northern Ireland. There are issues and a totally altered legal situation between the UK's fisheries policy and the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

In order to designate any ports, there has to be significant regulatory oversight available. I have been working closely with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, and doing the best that has been possible, given the resources that are there, to accommodate the designation of seven ports, when it was two before this. We cannot, unfortunately, do away with the additional red tape and administration that is going to come with that designation. There is going to be, for example, the four-hour notice period, which is a requirement under illegal, unreported and unregulated, IUU, and North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, NEFC, regulations, and also the need for a tax certificate from the Northern Irish authorities for the catch to be landed. There are still real challenges there but certainly, as Minister, I was keen to do all I could to facilitate them, within reason.

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