Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This long-awaited Dáil debate on the fisheries sector has finally arrived, allowing us to shed light on the EU's clandestine actions that undermine the interests of the Irish fishing industry. The man at the helm, our Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, appears to be complicit in these actions, aligning himself with unelected bureaucrats in Brussels rather than standing up for Irish coastal communities and the fishing sector.

The latest manoeuvres or sellout being entertained and facilitated by the Minister involve EU negotiations with Iceland to surrender more fishing rights in Irish waters. It is deeply troubling that an Irish fisheries Minister would engage in such a deal, allowing the EU to grant Iceland access to our fishing waters. This secretive agreement is not only objectionable but also lacks transparency. The deal, which is shrouded in secrecy, promises our fishermen an additional 15 million tonnes of blue whiting quota this year, but at a steep cost of allowing Icelandic crews to fish in our waters. This is akin to offering a child a single sweet in exchange for all their pocket money. What exacerbates the situation is the clandestine nature of these talks, conducted without any consultation with the local sector, despite the severe implications.

Currently, foreign vessels catch more than 85% of the fish in Irish territorial waters while our fishermen can only watch from the sideline or have their vessels moored at piers due to a lack of quota. This new deal threatens to worsen the situation. The lack of advocacy for our industry is evident. Unlike our counterparts in other EU countries, we do not seem to be fighting for our sector. If this new deal proceeds, Iceland, a non-EU member, will be able to catch almost the same amount of blue whiting in Irish waters as we do. This one-sided deal benefits only Iceland, leaving us with no comparable catch in Icelandic waters. Ireland stands to lose significantly from the deal, with countries like Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden all gaining more than Ireland.

This highlights the glaring incompetence of our fisheries Minister, who seems willing to accept any proposal thrown at him by EU officials. This is a fact well known in Brussels. At its core, the EU is exploiting our waters to secure better deals for other EU and non-EU states, all at Ireland's expense. This is both unbelievable and outrageous. Would the Spanish or Dutch Governments ever accept such a flawed deal? There has been no input or adequate consultation by the Minister with the affected fishermen here on this deal. The Irish fishing industry has already lost 26% of its mackerel quota to the UK due to Brexit. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has intentionally downsized the Irish fleet and decommissioned dozens of trawlers.

Last year, Ireland's pelagic fish exports dropped by 45%, representing a loss of €56 million to the Irish economy. It is high time for the Minister to come clean about the talks. The Irish fishing industry and the public deserve transparency and a Minister who will fight for their interests. It is baffling to see our Minister and his officials advancing an agenda driven by the EU Commission.

This is an agenda which does not serve Ireland's interests, but instead favours Iceland, a non-EU member. We are deeply concerned that this concession of further foreign access to Irish waters is being negotiated behind closed doors. Why would we agree to a deal that permits Icelandic fisherman to exploit valuable blue whiting stocks in Irish waters? Iceland has vast waters of its own and a history of arbitrarily increasing fishing quotas, leading to the depletion of its own stocks.

It is unjustifiable that Irish fishermen should bear the cost of this. A deal with Iceland must be reciprocal. This current deal threatens to further devastate the Irish fishing industry. Granting access to another non-EU country would further jeopardise the livelihoods of Irish fishermen and the sustainability of the stock. We fear a repeat of the Brexit giveaway that occurred on this Minister's watch. Iceland boasts a substantial fishing fleet, including factory ships that will deplete our stock. It is unjust to grant them rights to fish in our waters. The EU has already sacrificed Ireland in the Brexit negotiations resulting in severe repercussions, following the disastrous transfer of Irish fishing quotas to the EU. Ireland has decommissioned 39 vessels and downsized its national fleet. We now find ourselves in the inconceivable situation of granting a third country access, while Ireland's small fleet and onshore factories grapple with reduced fishing quotas.

According to reports, Icelandic fishing of blue whiting in Irish waters would yield that country a benefit of €22.5 million with no benefit for Ireland. We struggle to understand why the Minister and his officials are rushing an agenda driven by the EU Commission that benefits Iceland, a non-EU member. Have we not learned from past mistakes?

Will the Minister immediately block or veto any EU deal with Iceland? The Irish fishing industry and the public deserve better, as well as a Minister who will fight for them.

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