Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Minister of State. It is great to have him here. I welcome the motion and the opportunity to strengthen it through the amendments that we have tabled this evening. We also acknowledge the importance of having a Minister of State for marine affairs. Acknowledgement is not enough, however. Our fishing communities are in crisis. The recent report from An Bord Iascaigh Mhara suggesting that everything is fine has been described by industry leaders as offensive and unacceptable. The reality on the ground is stark. Boats are tired, crews are exhausted and coastal economies are on the brink. Our pelagic sector is facing what industry has called an economic Armageddon.

Scientific advice for 2026 shows massive cuts, such as a cut of 70% to mackerel and 41% to blue whiting, yet those cuts are not the result of Irish actions. Irish fishermen follow the science and rules. The crisis has been caused by rogue and reckless fishing by Norway, Iceland and other countries, facilitated by weak international oversight and EU inaction. Irish fishermen are paying the price for other nations’ bad behaviour. While this is happening, Norway and others are still being granted access to Irish waters. This is why the motion must be clear. Ireland must oppose any further concessions that give third countries disproportionate access to our waters. I have also added an essential line in this amendment, one that speaks directly to the heart of the problem, namely, to “stand up for our fishing communities by demanding our fair share of the fish in Irish waters and by challenging the failings of the Common Fisheries Policy that facilitate the injustice”.Ireland controls 12% of EU waters but receives 6% of the quota. That imbalance worsened after Brexit. Our communities bore the cost and cannot continue to accept it.

The impact is real. Up to 837 jobs in the pelagic catching sector are at risk. That is more than 2,300 when the indirect jobs are included. This could mean a €200 million hit to the seafood economy. In many places, fishing families are telling us they are the last generation. That is actually shocking to hear when you think of what it means to this country to have fishing. Industry matters too. The Government has invested in some ports, harbours and piers under the fisheries, harbour and coastal infrastructure programme and the Brexit adjustment reserve. However, many coastal communities have seen nothing. That is why my amendment clarifies the investment has been selective and not sector-wide.

The motion also calls for targeted supports for traditional fishing communities. I have amended it to ensure it includes small-scale inshore and island fishermen and women. Island and inshore communities are too often forgotten. These are the people fishing single-handedly, facing soaring costs with no stability and no safety net. Ireland must also secure the Hague preferences as compensation to these devastating quota cuts. We need emergency financial supports to protect vessels, jobs and processing plants. We need a stronger voice in Europe. Many in the industry have called for a permanent Fish Ireland office in Brussels, something Government really should explore, and urgently. At the core of all of this is fairness. Our coastal and island communities are not looking for favours. They are looking for justice. They deserve the same protection and respect given to others.

This motion, strengthened by the amendments, is a clear statement from this House: Ireland must demand its fair share of our own natural resources. The reckless overfishing by other nations cannot be rewarded. The Common Fisheries Policy must be fundamentally reformed and fishing communities - coastal, inshore and island - must have a viable future. Our heritage, our jobs, our coastal economies and sovereignty of our own waters are at stake. The era of managed decline must end. The State needs to fight for its fishers and not apologise for them.