Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to get clarification from the Minister. The idea of allowing Irish boats access to Irish waters is accepted, but the issue of allocation of stocks is a concern. Will the Minister make it clear that his ability, or that of his Department, to allocate stocks is excluded from the legislation? Will he make it clear that this legislation does not facilitate the allocation of stocks? Will he make it clear that no additional quota comes with this access? Access is one thing if it is based on the existing quota of existing licence-holders, but will the Minister clarify that issue on the record?

I again appeal to the Minister with regard to this amendment and what I am trying to achieve. It is critical that he meet the Kelly family. He should not underestimate Gerard Kelly's resolve or sense of injustice. I make it absolutely clear that the issues the Kelly family wish to discuss with the Minister relate solely to this legislation. This is really important. Mr. Kelly presented to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. He was one of those who contributed, on the record, to this legislation. He has been a participant in the consultation process. I ask the Minister to meet Mr. Kelly and his family in the next 24 hours solely in respect of their concerns about this legislation, and not about the matters before the courts. I want to be clear on that. That is not what I am requesting. I am asking that the Minister at least hear what the family have to say regarding their concerns about this legislation. They have submitted to me very constructive proposals which would address the wider concerns of inshore fishermen around the coast. These proposals are very constructive. I ask the Minister to keep an open mind and to have a look at what the Kelly family have to say and at their amendments. I ask him to give them a hearing and to see whether he can address some of those concerns. Those concerns and very constructive proposals align to the wider issues.

I will reiterate this because it will become a big issue in the next 24 hours. I am sure all of the political parties that are not in government wish the Minister would consult the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, NIFF. I acknowledge that he has been working with it positively in other regards. I put that on the record. The NIFF also acknowledges that, but it has real concerns. It released a press release tonight. It is on the social media of the skipper. Its concerns are out in the public domain. I ask the Minister, who has a good relationship with the NIFF, to engage with it in the next 24 hours to see if his amendments address its concerns.

Finally, I will refer to the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, IFPO. I know the Minister respects the IFPO as a stakeholder and a key voice for fishermen around our coasts. It has concerns and I would like the Minister to engage more with it. That is the request of the political parties that are not in government.

I again ask the Minister not to assume that this legislation will go through these Houses on Thursday. Its passage will be conditional on further dialogue and the Minister's attempts in this regard. He has made progress and I acknowledge that. There have been talks but we are not there yet. To recap, I ask the Minister to meet the Kelly family solely about this legislation and not about anything to do with the issues before the courts; to look at their proposals and their intervention, which I think are very positive and substantial; and to engage with the NIFF and IFPO. That is critical. If the Minister can give me assurances on these issues, we will have the basis to proceed on to Thursday.