Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Three weeks ago, a delegation of fishermen from all around the coast of Ireland went to Brussels and met with the director-general of the European Commission that deals with fisheries, Charlina Vitcheva. That delegation included representatives from six national fishing organisations and two co-ops, one based in Greencastle in north Donegal and the Galway and Aran co-op. We had representatives from right around the coast. It was a powerful delegation and they made the case for our fair share of the fish in Irish waters. At that meeting, we also engaged with the director-general around what supports could be given to the industry to help it deal with the fuel crisis that is going on right now. The fishermen we speak to all around the coast are struggling to go out to water with the increase in fuel costs and the impact that is having on them. They are struggling to make a living as it is because we do not get a fair share of the fish in our waters and now they are struggling with the impact of Brexit due to the loss of even more fish and quota. That is the context in which those fishermen come into this crisis.

I am sorry to say to the Minister of State that even though in the likes of France and Spain there have been significant interventions to support the fishing industries there and considerable supports have been given to them, nothing additional has been given to our fishing community in Ireland. There is the Brexit adjustment reserve, BAR, fund, which comprises money given to Ireland to compensate for the further decommissioning of our fleet. We can park that money aside because it comes from the European Union to compensate our fishing communities for the loss of €43 million every year, or €250 million and even more when we add on the knock-on impacts. The real issue is there has been no central Exchequer funding to support our fishing communities, who are on their knees all along the coast, while the French Government and the Spanish Government, and no doubt other governments if we check this further, have given significant supports.

The director-general of the European Commission who deals with fisheries, Charlina Vitcheva, has reported that the Commission is waiting on Ireland’s proposals. Nothing has come from Ireland to support our fishing communities. When the Taoiseach attends the Council meeting, will he put forward proposals to help our fishing communities cope with this crisis?

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