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

The funding for the tie-up scheme comes from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund, not from the Exchequer. We have appealed to the Minister to explore both the Exchequer and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. There are resources in the fund that could be deployed here along with Exchequer funding. A package was announced in the budget to address the cost-of-living crisis and the energy crisis for a range of sectors, but not for that of fishing.

The Minister has met these representatives at least twice if not three times. This sector is in crisis. The break-even price was 60 cent per litre but it has been at well over €1 for the best part of this year. That is just not sustainable. I speak to fishermen every day, as I am sure the Minister does, and they tell us this. There needs to be an urgent intervention. I again appeal to him to put money on the table to keep them at sea and delivering seafood for our people.

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