Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will take the opportunity to answer on the issue of fisheries, which was raised by a number of Deputies here today. It is welcome that they did so. The European Commissioner who is responsible for fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, visited Ireland for two days in September. He went to Donegal with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and met the Taoiseach. He has been left in no doubt as to Ireland's views on the issue of fisheries and the concerns that we have about quotas, which are shared by Government. The Taoiseach also raised this matter with Ursula von der Leyen when he met her. We have ongoing contact with the European Union on fisheries. This is a very important subject. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, will continue engaging in that regard.

The export of animals was not directly discussed at the European Council meeting but it is safe to say the European Union is the strongest protector of family farms we have seen in world history and will continue to be so through the Common Agricultural Policy.

See this speech in context