Results 6,881-6,900 of 23,975 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: No, the coastal states such as the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway. It does speak to the challenges in relation to fisheries management and how difficult it can be. It is something that we and the Commission take very seriously.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It should also be noted that the other member states have not taken a responsible position in relation to the management of fisheries. Something that has been going on-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: No, other coastal member states, not EU member states. As we discussed in detail today, a responsible approach is being taken within the EU, which includes moving to maximum sustainable yield, managing fisheries well and the control around that, which is important. That will ensure we have sustainable fisheries into the future. That is what is happening at the EU level. Unfortunately, we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy is suggesting that we introduce full-blown trade sanctions in relation to this one issue. Obviously, that is a tool which the EU would have at its disposal, but it would be a big decision to make to do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: We want and need a responsible approach by all parties to the issue in the engagement and negotiation. It is something that the European Commission is taking very seriously. Certainly, it is something that I am raising, along with other member states, ardently at Council meetings in trying to a successful outcome

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In terms of how countries engage with one another and come to agreements, there are different engagements happening at different times. If countries are not engaging in a fair way with others, then that has repercussions. It is important that the issue continues to get the priority that it has been getting in the approach that the EU has taken. Ultimately, there are a number of players...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: What has been in place for the last two years is not sustainable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As I outlined before, it took two or three years to actually reach an agreement on the previous occasion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: What we need is an outcome which respects the historic fishing patterns of the various participants in the industry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: That is what we want to achieve.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I will certainly listen to any suggestions the Deputy has. It is a challenge.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It takes a number of countries to come together. There are a number of sovereign actors in the negotiations, which makes it very difficult.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: There are others as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: We obviously want to improve our position. That is our objective. I have been asserting that at various European Council meetings. The Deputy is right; there is not an appetite among the Commissioner and many other member states for a full review. In fact, I have been the only one really pushing hard for that. Indeed, I took a very hard line in relation to the access arrangements as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: That is not what happened in the negotiations. It has not happened yet. It is something that I strongly believe should happen. That is my view. However, as the Deputy is aware, it is subject to getting sufficient support to be able to bring about the change. That is absolutely my objective and mission here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Out of all the member states, we are the one looking to change and bring about this perspective.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am new to this role in the last two or three years. There are fishing representatives whose livelihood this is and who have years of expertise. There are fishing representatives who have been in the industry for 30 or 40 years. I brought everybody together to assess what is the best possible strategy and the strongest possible leverage that we can bring to the table. I felt that was the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Anything and everything that can be done to support the sector is being done. That is fighting and battling at European level and, indeed, working with the sector domestically to support it as well. In terms of the fund at European level, that funding is earmarked for other things in the fishing sector but it can be turned into immediate liquidity. As I outlined earlier, I have a scheme...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainability Impact Assessment: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: A decision was taken and a process put in place approximately three or four years ago by my predecessor, Deputy Creed, with regard to preventing large trawlers from operating inside the six-mile zone. That was challenged in court. The court initially put a stay on preventing those boats coming within six miles but removed that stay in a decision a number of months ago. We are awaiting the...