Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

From the outset, all of us nationally and in the fishing sector were concerned about the potential impact that Brexit could have on the fisheries sector. The Deputy is aware of how taking back the fish quota, reclaiming their waters and all of the fish caught by an EU fleet was made to be a number one priority by the British Government. The approach taken here was resolute and strong. We worked with our domestic sector to ensure that we spoke with one voice and to make sure that we spoke with one voice at a European level, both with me working at a political level with other EU fisheries ministers and the fisheries Commissioner and the industry working with its compatriots in the European Fisheries Alliance, EUFA, to ensure that the EU approach to the negotiations on fisheries was as strong as it could be. That was instrumental in ensuring that the worst excesses that Brexit could have created for fisheries was avoided, with the possibility of a no-deal Brexit and pushing back at every opportunity against the British demand for 100% of the fish caught by the EU fleet to be reallocated. Ultimately that was confined to 25%, which is damaging in itself but it was an outcome which was achieved as a result of a strong negotiating approach.

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