Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Calleary for his very considered and thoughtful insight into the challenge facing the fishing sector, in particular the challenges and difficulties it has had to navigate over recent months and the important junction we are at in terms of ensuring that we have a strong, sustainable and healthy fishing sector and industry into the future. Given the challenging times there have been and especially given the timing of Brexit, I know the Deputy will join me in acknowledging the effort and commitment of the staff in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to deal with these very challenging issues. I know he worked exceptionally well with them previously with great commitment, passion and understanding. Given the Brexit deal on Christmas Eve and its timing, I acknowledge all of the commitment, work and effort that was involved in the run-up to that and all of the work that was involved right after the deal. For example, very late on New Year's Eve I put a call in to fisheries officials in the Department of the marine to thank them for having worked all day New Year's Eve until late that night to get out the authorisations that were necessary for vessels to be able to fish the next day. That is the type of commitment that often is not acknowledged and I know it is one the Deputy would second. It is important that is made clear.

In terms of some of the issues the Deputy outlined, I welcome his acknowledgement of the task force as a constructive way to go forward. I agree with him on the importance of it having a prompt turnaround time. We have a window between now and the end of March where there is clarity around quotas, given the agreement of the December Fisheries Council meeting, but there will be an impact after that in terms of the outcome from Brexit and the adjustments. It is very important that that is informed by those in the fisheries sector who are affected by it. The terms of reference, which I am currently considering, will be framed around ensuring they have a clear and direct input into framing the way we go forward in the short term and ensuring a healthy, long-term future for our fishing sector post-Brexit.

Regarding the Brexit adjustment reserve, we are getting a 25% allocation at European level of the total allocation so far, which is a very strong national outcome in terms of a financial allocation, but it will take more than that. There is a clear Government commitment, in particular in respect of the fisheries and marine sectors, to invest in that and support it in the time ahead. The Brexit adjustment reserve funding will be welcome, but national funding will be forthcoming to support them to adjust, grow and sustain employment in a post-Brexit scenario.

With regard to quota rebalancing, as recently as yesterday morning in my meeting with Commissioner Sinkevicius and the chairman of the negotiation task force, Michel Barnier, I have been very clear about leaving no one in any doubt as to the unfair burden on Ireland as a result of the outcome of Brexit from a fisheries point of view. We were always going to be the nation, whether it be fisheries or other parts of our economy, that would be most impacted and most at risk from Brexit. Unfortunately, that has been the case and, despite the best possible efforts, there is an impact on our sector. I will be working at European level to try to find constructive solutions to address that.

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