Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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5. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will include a provision in the operational programme of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to provide for compensation for fishermen affected by storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26237/14]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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This question arises from the storms that devastated the country in the early part of this year and badly affected inshore fishermen. For at least three months, they were unable to go to sea. The question relates to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and to what provision can be included in the operational programme to allow the state to compensate those fisherman with the assistance of European funding. What are the Minister's intentions in that regard?

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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The EU regulation establishing the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund was published on 20 May 2014. Following months of intense lobbying and negotiation, the Minister announced on 12 June 2014 that he had secured €148 million from the new fund for the period 2014 to 2020 for the development of the Irish seafood industry and the coastal communities that depend on it. This funding is more than double the amount that was available to Ireland during the last Common Fisheries Policy and will ensure a strong seafood industry in Ireland that can grow and expand to meet its potential up to 2020. Ireland’s EMFF allocation is to be provided through five discrete funding envelopes, namely €71 million for investment in the seafood industry, €32 million for data collection, €37 million for control and enforcement, €5 million for implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy, and €1.3 million for storage aid. I will be discussing with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the near future Exchequer matching funding, having regard to the general budgetary situation for the coming years.

The EMFF will provide support for our fishing fleet to meet the challenges of the new discards ban. It will support the development of the seafood processing sector, a sustainable aquaculture industry and the communities that depend on a vibrant seafood industry.

My Department has been working since 2013 on developing a new operational programme setting out the arrangements for spending Ireland’s allocation under the fund and has engaged with stakeholders on a number of occasions to date. Further public consultation and strategic environmental assessment will take place over the summer of 2014. The new operational programme must be submitted to the European Commission for adoption before the end of 2014.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Article 35 of the EMFF regulation provides for a contribution from the operational programme to a mutual fund established by fishermen or their representatives. Such a mutual fund may pay financial compensation to affiliated fishermen for economic losses caused by adverse climatic events or environmental incidents or for the rescue costs for fishermen or fishing vessels in case of accidents at sea during their fishing activities. I am minded to make provision in the operational programme for such a mutual fund contribution. This is subject to final decisions on overall priorities for the seafood sector and to ex anteevaluation by independent consultants of the appropriateness of such a measure. In addition, the contribution will be subject to matching funds being provided by fishermen, as required by the regulation.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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That is a nice overview of the press release from the Department last week at the conclusion of the negotiations, but it did not address any of the specific points in the question. The Oireachtas joint committee has written to the Minister asking that such provision be included in the operational programme.

Will any consideration be given to supporting fishermen through the operational programme of the fisheries fund?

It is interesting to note that of the €147 million referred to, approximately €72 million will be spent on data collection and enforcement. In reality, then, it is only around €70 million that will go towards investment in the growth of the seafood sector. Will the Minister include in the operational programme supports for fishermen who were affected by the storms which plagued this country and which could be repeated in the future?

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I will have further discussions on that issue. I would remind the Deputy that €8 million has already been spent on storm-damaged piers and harbours throughout the country. Obviously in the tight budgetary situation in which the country finds itself, finding money for the Deputy's specific proposals will be difficult. I cannot give the Deputy a definitive answer today but I will revert to him on it in due course.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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We found money last year when farmers were in crisis because of the fodder shortage. Money was no object in terms of dealing with that situation. It was very interesting to note that when the Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine discussed the crisis that fishermen are going through because of the recent storms, the committee room was empty. On the other hand, when the committee discussed the fodder crisis last year, one could hardly get into the room with the amount of members of the media and farming organisations there, not to mention Deputies who wanted to be seen to be supporting the farmers.

The €8 million that was allocated for repairing piers and harbours will not improve the livelihood of any of the fishermen who were affected by the recent storms and who will be affected by them again in the future. I am sad to say that I do not hold out much hope that the Minister will include any provisions in the operational programme to support fishermen. The Minister of State spoke about the financial constraints under which the country is operating but European money is available. EU money is available to support fishermen, albeit with the requirement for matching funding. Supporting fishermen with such funding would cost a lot less than if the Government was to provide funding on its own.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I am sure that if European funding is available, officials in the Department will seek it.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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That has not been the case in the past.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I can reassure Deputy Pringle on that point. The Deputy made the case that money was made available to farmers last year. At that time, animals throughout the country were in a very serious state. Indeed, in particular areas, there was no hay available and animals were starving. Farmers were facilitated by the importation of fodder from England and parts of France and its distribution around the country. That was a success story and why would people not welcome it? There was huge concern in April and May last year because animals were starving because of the lack of fodder.

On the issue of fishermen, I will talk to officials in the Department to ascertain whether funding is available from Europe for which we can apply. If there is any other way we can help fishermen, we will do so.