Results 1-20 of 11,024 for speaker:Timmy Dooley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I recognise that. When I was before the committee chaired by Deputy McGuinness recently, I informed it that I have asked an outside interlocutor to work with the sector generally. Mr. Kieran Mulvey has accepted the role of working with all stakeholders in the sector to identify areas where we can assist and develop a way forward or pathway as part of a strategy that the Department will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I thank the Deputy for the question. As he knows, the operation of the fish assist scheme is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. The primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector, including inshore and island fishermen and fisherwomen, is Ireland's seafood development programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Commission under...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: As I outlined in my initial response to the Deputy, it is not possible to apportion any of the funding available to our Department through EMFAF to the income support he talks about. As he knows, and as is the case with farm assist, income support comes through the Department of Social Protection. While that does not fall within my responsibility, I am happy to have a conversation with the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I thank the Deputy for her question. Sprat is a small pelagic schooling fish that occurs inshore. Sprat is a short-lived species and an important prey fish for many marine species, those vital to the ocean food chain, as well as an important source of income for inshore fishermen. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, considers sprat to be a data limited stock,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I am aware of the Deputy's knowledge and experience in this area, and I take that on board. She is right to identify sprat as an important feeder stock for mammals, birds and other fish species in those areas she has identified. I will continue to engage with the Marine Institute with regard to the information it has and data it is capturing as part of its overall assessment of stocks in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: The overall catch of stock has grown significantly in recent years. That indicates that there is not a major threat in the short term to the supply of sprat. However, it is my view that to continue to fish at those levels would certainly lead to a significant negative impact. I will get into the process that is under way a little later. I have to be mindful, in whatever decision is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I note the Deputy's personal interest in this, as well as that of others in the area who have raised it consistently with me. It is a position that goes back to the 1955 situation and, obviously, Brexit then had a really negative effect from a fisher's perspective. On Wednesday next, I am meeting the UK Minister with responsibility for fisheries, Mr. Daniel Zeichner and I intend to raise...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I will not be found wanting in conveying the feelings of this House. We are united on this issue. We are not always united on issues here but we are very united on trying to find a resolution to this. I am conscious that it has to be done through the diplomatic channels. I am also conscious that there are significant legacy issues and that, notwithstanding the view of some in this House...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: As the Deputy knows, Rockall is a small, uninhabitable rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda, and 230 nautical miles to the north west of Donegal. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has not sought to claim sovereignty over Rockall. The UK claimed sovereignty over Rockall in 1955 and sought to formally annex it as part of Scotland under its 1972...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: It is a pleasure to be back in the Seanad again. This is my second opportunity since being elected to the other House. I recall my time here with fondness. I join the Acting Chairperson in welcoming Eoghan Clonan, someone I have come to know over many years visiting this House with his dad. It is fantastic to see him with us today. I thank the Senators for seeking this opportunity...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I do. I wish to finish this piece on the EU-UK agreement. It was critically important for Ireland as we suffered disproportionately on quota transfers in the TCA and we were determined not to lose one more fish. There are people in the sector who would have liked to have had a reversal of the quota, but that was not possible. The agreement reached sees an extension of 12 years of the...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I thank the Cathaoirleach and all the Senators who contributed for their valuable input. As so much has been said, I will not be able to respond to each Senator individually but I will try insofar as I can, with the few minutes I have left, to cover some of the issues. Senator Blaney knows far more about fishing than I do but, by the same token, there is a lot in common between us, as...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I accept that and it is something I want to look at. I cannot give any commitments. I am conscious there is a view within the industry that we are out of kilter regarding the administrative approach rather than the criminal sanction for certain elements of that. I have made a commitment to look at this but I do not want to give any commitments relating to how I might ultimately proceed on...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I can certainly do another ten minutes if that is enough.

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I am happy to go for another five minutes on those issues.

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: That is an issue I recognise there is a lot of interest in and we can work through that with a review. Some of this will be addressed through the Kieran Mulvey approach I am taking, which is to go out to all stakeholders, engage with them and listen to their views and concerns, some of which we may be able to advance and progress as part of our future framework coming from that strategy that...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: That is an important feature and one I am examining but there is a difficulty. I thank the Senator for raising the matter. An allocation can be made as set out in Article 17, to which the Senator referred, but a decision taken in 2017 by the then Minister to change the policy on allocation following a review was challenged in the courts. I understand it is still in the courts under...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Timmy Dooley: Deputy McDonald has none.

Fisheries: Statements (12 Jun 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I thank all the Deputies who contributed for their insights and helpful suggestions. I want to correct one matter. I indicated, I think, that I am to meet my UK counterpart on 5 July. I am reliably informed it is 9 July. I do not want anything to be missed on the record on that. To the Sinn Féin Members who talked about their survey, that is a useful piece of work, and I can...

Fisheries: Statements (12 Jun 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I thank the Deputies for seeking the opportunity for statements on fisheries. I am pleased to discuss the important issues concerned affecting the fisheries sector. I wish to reassure the House that as Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries and the marine, I recognise the importance of maintaining a vibrant fishing sector, both for the communities that rely on it and,...