Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said, it is not unprecedented because representatives of all those same organisations met me in March and April to discuss exactly the same challenges, and their proposal and ask of me then was for a second month of the tie-up scheme, which I delivered on. Such a scheme is not in place in other countries that have been impacted by Brexit, although without doubt they have been impacted to a lesser extent than us. That was their specific request to me then and I delivered on it. I met them again as recently as last week for further discussions on this.

I reiterate there is no Government tax on marine diesel. There is VAT but it is fully reclaimable, so any support that is delivered will actually subsidise the net cost, minus tax, of fuel. Undoubtedly, the margins are such for many fishermen at the moment that they cannot make a profit or are very challenged in that regard. I have been listening to and engaging with them, which I will continue to do, and I will consider the submissions they have made to me.

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