Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. We have had a very constructive and useful debate. I am very glad we have had three hours to discuss marine issues. As Deputies will be aware, it has been my hallmark as Minister to engage in every way I can with fishers. I have held virtual town hall meetings with people from coastal communities throughout the country in the absence of being able to meet people during the pandemic. I intend to visit our piers and harbours over the summer when hopefully it will be possible to do so.

I have had many engagements with Deputies at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine. I am open at any time to attend that committee to discuss the matter further. Likewise, I am open to having a discussion in this Chamber at any time on marine matters. I have had substantial ongoing engagement with producer organisation representatives and fisher representatives on all issues and will continue to do that. If anybody needs any more debate at any stage, they should just ask and I will be available.

Deputy Michael Collins spoke about seeking a debate and raising the issue here in the House one day. I am always available to meet and there are ways and means for people to make requests. A hurler does not land in the middle of a football pitch looking to play hurling and then give out about the referee putting him off the pitch, which was what happened when the Deputy requested the debate that day. He raised it during an entirely different debate and was told by the Ceann Comhairle that it was not appropriate on that point. I know he disputed it at the time but that was why there was a kerfuffle that day. It related to the forum in which it was requested. At any stage when a debate is required, I am open to it.

It is clear from today's debate that it is not always as simple as looking to press a "Yes" or "No" button on issues relating to fishermen. There are many technical difficult issues involved which require much engagement and consideration in the Oireachtas, including at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine, and directly with fishermen and fisherwomen. We have had many challenges to deal with recently, including Brexit which is a once-in-a-generation challenge to the sector, the weighing issue which is presenting a real challenge at the moment and ongoing challenges relating to quota. Those matters require considerable engagement and I am always open for that. It is not as straightforward as looking to create a set-piece and push a "Yes" or "No" button.

Some Deputies have suggested that we need a dedicated full Cabinet Minister for the marine. However, I am a full Cabinet Minister for the marine in the same way as in the full Cabinet Minister for agriculture. I am Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The same applies to food. I have never been told that we need a dedicated Minister for agriculture because I also cover food and the marine. The same logic applies to being a full Cabinet Minister, fully representing the marine as well.

Even though it is a smaller sector in its proportion of the national economy, accounting for about one tenth of the exports that agriculture does, it is a very important sector of the economy, nonetheless. It is very important to our national identity. It takes up much more of my time than that, given the challenges facing our marine and fishing sector. I am honoured to be able to work with everyone and to represent it as best I can, working with my Government colleagues as a full Cabinet Minister in the same way as I am a full Cabinet Minister for agriculture. It is really important that a full Cabinet Minister has that responsibility. That is the best way to ensure the sector is represented at Cabinet level and at European level on the Council of Ministers.

I touched on many topics in my opening address.

In my closing remarks, I will touch on a few other points, many of which were made during this debate. It is also important to discuss the topic of climate action in the seafood sector, particularly in light of the passing last night of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill. There is growing global acceptance of the reality of the impacts of climate change on our oceans. This has driven a sharp focus on the need for solutions and actions to address these pressing challenges. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has signalled his intention to publish the climate action plan 2021 this summer. My Department is participating in several working groups contributing to the drafting of the plan. As I speak, climate action is actively being embedded across policies, programmes and work streams within my Department and the agencies under my remit, creating opportunities for innovation and to harness the collective input of policymakers, scientists, technical experts and industry representatives to generate meaningful climate action.

As islanders surrounded by ocean, it is imperative that we further and deepen our understanding of the marine environment and the effects of climate change. During 2021, the Marine Institute will conduct a baseline study of essential ocean variable monitoring in Irish waters, current measurement programmes and data quality. We also have the new marine research vessel, RV Tom Crean, which is due to be completed in summer 2022. I was pleased last week to be at the pier in Greencastle, in my home county, to announce that over 600 tonnes of mainly plastic waste has been collected by our seafood sector since 2015 as part of the clean oceans initiative. I congratulate all the fishers who were involved and Bord Iascaigh Mhara for its initiative.

Withe regard to the national marine planning framework, all maritime spatial planning matters, including for offshore renewable energy projects, come under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I understand the Minister intends to publish the maritime area planning Bill in the coming weeks, which will overhaul the planning and development system in the maritime area. The national marine planning framework is due to be published next month.

I will briefly address the issue of fisheries control, which was raised by a number of Deputies. I am very much aware of the recent decision by the European Commission, which has significant implications for our fishers, to remove Ireland's derogation for weighing of fish after transport. As Deputies will know, I have addressed this issue in the House many times. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority has put a revised fisheries control plan out to public consultation. Following the conclusion of that public consultation, the SFPA will submit a new control plan to the EU for approval.

On the situation post Brexit, the interim report of the task force, to which several Deputies referred, was presented to me in recent days. The report accurately describes Brexit as a once in a generation geopolitical shift. That is a fair reflection of the challenge and impact Brexit has had. Overall, we will see a 15% impact on our national fishing quotas, between now and 2026. That is causing significant distress to our sector and all the fishers who are impacted by that loss. I will continue to explore all opportunities to address this burden placed that has been on us and which exceeds the burden many other member states are carrying. We will be informed by the advice from the fisheries task force, under the chairmanship by Aidan Cotter, on the avenues and methods for best doing that. We will be guided by further reports of the task force. I look forward to the task force bringing to a conclusion its work on how we can support and invest in our fisheries sector in the years ahead.

I know we have had challenges in recent months but I fully believe the fishing sector has a tremendous and sustainable future. It is a sector I want to ensure we invest in to maximise its potential to sustain incomes throughout the country, address the challenges it faces and build it to become as important a sector in our future as it has been in our past.

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