Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I move:

That Seanad Éireann: - acknowledges the appointment of a Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries, and for the Marine, as part of Programme for Government commitments;

- acknowledges the challenges faced by Irish fishermen and women due to anticipated quota reductions driven by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) scientific advice, rising operational costs, and the impact of international agreements on the sustainability of the sector;

- notes the vital economic, cultural, and social importance of the fishing industry to coastal communities across Ireland;

- notes the investment by Government in our ports, under the Fisheries Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme;

- expresses concern that third countries, including Norway, refuse to set total allowable catches in line with the ICES advice;

- considers that this irresponsible behaviour demonstrates that these third countries do not see the EU as an equal partner in managing our stocks of shared interest;

- expresses concern about the access granted to third countries, including Norway, to fish in Irish waters under current arrangements; calls on the Government to: - invoke the relevant Hague Preferences, at the appropriate time;

- oppose any further concessions that allow third countries disproportionate access to Irish waters, while showing disregard for ICES scientific advice;

- safeguard and develop shore-based services, including fish processing, storage, and transport infrastructure, to maintain employment and economic activity in coastal regions;

- increase investment in modernisation and safety measures for the fishing fleet;

- provide targeted supports for small-scale and inshore fishers to ensure the viability of traditional fishing communities; and

- enhance enforcement and monitoring to protect Irish waters from illegal or excessive fishing activities by non-EU vessels.

Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)
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I second the motion.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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Are the Senators sharing time?

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Acting Chairperson, the Minister of State and my esteemed colleagues for coming in. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion tonight. It goes to the heart of the matter. It is not only strategic, but economic and deeply cultural and profoundly human, for the future of the Irish fishing industry and coastal communities depend on it.

I acknowledge the appointment of a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, Deputy Dooley, as part of the programme for Government commitments. This is not merely a procedural development but a symbolic gesture that reflects the recognition at the high level of the Government that the marine sector, our fisheries, our coastal infrastructure, aquaculture and offshore require focused leadership, a clear strategic voice and a consistent voice at the Cabinet table. For far too long, marine issues were dispersed across multiple Departments, diluting accountability and slowing progress. The Minister of State for the marine is a welcome step towards better co-ordination, stronger policy delivery and a deeper appreciation of what the sea means for Ireland, not only economically but environmentally, culturally and societally.

However, we all know that the existence of a dedicated Minister does not on its own resolve the mounting difficulties faced by Ireland or its fishing communities when Ireland's industry is operating in one of the most challenging environments in decades. Quota reductions agreed at EU level, influenced by international negotiations, have cut deeply into the viability of the fishing enterprise. Brexit, in particular, has had devastating consequences. Ireland handed back far more quota proportionally than any EU member state. This imbalance is still being felt in our ports, on our piers and in our households and fishing families from Donegal to Cork, Howth, Dunmore East, Dingle, Castletown and many others. Rising operational costs, fuel prices, increased insurance, maintenance and regulatory compliance are pushing stakeholders to the brink. For some small-scale inshore fishermen and women, the pressures are magnified even further. Many are operating on tight margins and in some cases below the threshold of viability.

If these structural pressures were not enough, the impact of international agreements, including those granting access to non-EU states, have left many feeling devastated. They see others fishing in Irish waters while they themselves are constrained by reduced quotas. The question arises: how can this be fair? How can Europe allow this?

It is impossible to overstate the importance of the Irish fishing industry. Economically, it contributes hundreds of millions of euro annually, but the true value of the industry cannot be captured in figures alone. For many of our coastal communities, fishing is the backbone of our local employment, an anchor in our social activity and the source of our inherent identity.

Fishing is not only a job; it is our heritage. It is a culture built on skills, courage and respect for the sea. Places such as Killybegs, Castletown, Kilmore Quay, Howth, Union Hall and Greencastle are not simply points on a map; they are living communities that define their relationship with the ocean. The loss or decline of fishing activities in these towns is not merely an economic blow that threatens our very existence.

We also must acknowledge the substantial investment undertaken by the Government through the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme. This investment has delivered upgraded piers, improved safety features, enhanced berthing facilities, and vital modifications across the fishery harbour centres and numerous small community harbours.

Infrastructure investment is more than concrete and steel. It is the foundation of an economic activity. Modern ports are essential if we expect our fleets to operate safely, efficiently and competently. They also are the backbone of our shore-based services, such as processing facilities, cold storage, ice plants and service industries, such as net makers and engineering companies.

While the programme for Government is welcome, we cannot be complacent. Investment must continue, and in some cases be accelerated, if we are to sustain our fishing industry's future long term.

One issue that has become deeply contentious is the access granted to third countries, most notably Norway, to fish Irish waters under current arrangements. Let me be clear: Ireland is not opposed to an equal, balanced international agreement. We understand that fishery management is a shared responsibility and co-operation is essential for sustainability, but the perception and the reality is that Ireland has given far too much and received little or nothing in return.

Irish waters are among the richest fishing grounds in Europe, yet fishermen and women are being squeezed from both sides by reduced EU quotas and the arrangement that allows non-EU states to fish species they themselves have limited or no access to inside their own jurisdiction. This is not defensible. It is not fair and it is not sustainable. For that reason, this motion calls on the Government to advocate for fairer quota allocations for Ireland at EU level. I wholeheartedly support this.

This motion continues to press the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and our fellow member states to address the problems created by Brexit and other negotiations. Ireland should not carry a disproportionate burden of the loss. We must insist on a review mechanism of the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, a rebalancing of the shares and a future framework that recognises the scale Ireland has contributed to the EU, EU waters and conservation.

This motion calls on the Government to oppose any further concessions that allow third countries disproportionate access into Irish waters. We must speak with clarity on this and with fairness. Our waters are a natural resource. They must serve the interest of the Irish people, first and foremost. Any further agreements must be generally reciprocal and negotiated with transparency and demonstrate the benefits to the Irish fishing sector. There is no justification for granting expanded access to countries that already benefit from arrangements the Irish regard as excessive.

Third, this motion rightly emphasises the need to safeguard and develop our shore-based services, such as processing facilities, cold storage, freezing capacity, transport, logistics infrastructure, repair and maintenance service, and in value-added seafood enterprises. These services are the lifeblood of coastal employment. Without them, fish simply pass through our ports and leave no economic footprint behind them. If we want to maintain competitive, sustainable communities, we must ensure that fish caught in Irish waters are also processed, stored, distributed and, ideally, branded and marketed in Ireland. We should not accept the trend whereby raw product leaves our shore only to return as a more valuable imported product. This is not a vision of a modern, resilient seafood sector.

This motion calls for investment, modernisation and safety for the fishing fleet. Our fishermen and women undertake one of the most dangerous professions in the world. They deserve vessels that are safe, efficient and compliant with evolving standards. They deserve access to grant schemes to support engine upgrades, fuel efficient technology, improved safety equipment and vessel modernisation. Modernisation is not a luxury. It is a necessity for survival in competitive European and world markets.

We must target support for small-scale inshore fishing enterprises. These people are often the backbone of rural communities. They maintain the tradition, supplying local markets, and they have a minimal environmental footprint, yet they are also the most vulnerable to cuts and rising costs. Government support must be tailored to their needs. The sustainability of our coastline depends on the survival of these small enterprises.This motion calls for enhanced enforcement and monitoring to protect Irish waters from illegal or extensive fishing activities by non-EU vessels. That is essential. Ireland must defend its maritime sovereignty. We must ensure that vessels operating in our narrow waters adhere strictly to quotas, conservation rules and safety standards. We must insist that we get patrol capacity, surveillance technology, data systems and intelligence sharing. The regulatory framework for the sustainability of our marine resources depends on this.

This is not an abstract policy debate. These issues are felt deeply and personally in the homes of fishing families across the country. The motion recognises the challenges facing the fishing industry and its members, the need for stronger advocacy within the EU, the importance of defending our waters from disproportionate access, the role of the shore-based services in our coastal economies, the need for modern safe vessels, the vulnerability of our small-scale fishing enterprises, and the importance of robust enforcement to protect the fishing stock. In essence, it is a call for fairness, sustainability and a future vision for Ireland’s fishing industry that will bring new opportunities. For generations, our coastal communities have lived with the sea. They have respected and relied on the sea and have contributed immensely to our national identity. We owe them not only respect but also action. This motion is a step forward towards action. I call for fairness, a fair balance and for the protection of the sector that has shaped Ireland for centuries. We must stand together and united. I am pleased to support the motion and I encourage all members of this House to do likewise.

Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here. It is really welcome that fisheries are being discussed by means of this motion. That is not to say the issue of fisheries has not been discussed in decades gone by. With the programme for Government and the introduction of a Minister of State for the marine and fisheries and a committee to discuss fisheries, however, there is now a new and solid footing for representing the issues here.

As the Minister of State is aware, I represent west Cork, which has a proud fishing tradition at many of its ports. I developed an interest in fishing with my late uncle. We did a bit of leger fishing, ending up at the pier at Union Hall to watch the boats coming in and out. I remember the size of the fish coming in, including the big tuna. I used to love to be there to watch it all happening. It is not happening any more. That, to me, is wrong.

There is a sense of injustice in the fishing industry. When you talk to people, they will blame politicians and say fishing is a lost cause and that nothing can be done. They are right to say it, but there is a small minority still in existence who have hope. They see hope on the horizon that fishing finally has a place and is going to be taken seriously by the Government. We have to have results in the coming years to sustain that hope.

I am delighted to formally second this motion on the future of the fishing industry. The sector that sustained coastal communities for generations and now faces one of the most difficult periods in its history. To be straight and honest without being alarmist, it faces total annihilation. To understand today’s crisis, we must be honest about how we got here. When Ireland entered the Common Fisheries Policy in the 1980s, it had extensive waters and stocks but ended up with a deal that has brought us to where we are now. The deal we accepted then was deeply unfair and its consequences have shaped every decade since. Climate change has added pressures on stocks. Visiting fleets, as Senator Boyle mentioned, have added more to worsening the crisis within the industry. This is having an impact on communities that they can no longer sustain.

The Irish fishing community has called out overfishing for years, but what it had to say in that regard has fallen on deaf ears in Europe. We have to be honest about that. The dogs in the street know what has happened in the fishing sector. The central question now is how Ireland can continue in the context of its current quota share. The facts say that we cannot do so, not if we expect thriving ports, viable processors and a meaningful future for the next generation of Irish fishermen.

There is another threat we must confront, and that is the danger of division. Some would set inshore against offshore and small boats against large boats. Division serves others in Europe but it does not serve Ireland well. If we go to Brussels divided, we go weakened. If we stand together, we stand strong. I am glad to see much progress in recent years to bring unity to the sector.

I want to tackle a damaging myth that can often be peddled in the media, including social media, namely the idea that Ireland’s challenges are the fault of a handful of so-called large fishermen. These large operators are Irish employers. They support Irish ports and processing and operate under Irish rules and the Irish tax regime. They are not the cause of our historical disadvantage. The root problem has always been the size of the deal Ireland received, not the size of the boats that stayed loyal to this country. What can we do now, within our own control? First, we must have targeted financial supports to modernise the fleet and sustain processors. Second, there should be a succession plan benefiting young people who want to enter the industry. We have a green certificate for farming, so let us have a blue certificate for the fishing industry. Third, we should ensure sensible consolidation in both the fleet and processing sector, not ports. However, we need to support this.

There is potential in the industry that must be recognised. It is not too late to continue to carry out this work. However, national measures alone cannot correct a structural injustice created at European level. That is why the upcoming December Agriculture and Fisheries Council and a much talked about review of the Common Fisheries Policy are critical for the industry’s survival. The Seafood Alliance has some clear points in an emergency plan. I urge the Minister of State to ensure Ireland enters the upcoming negotiations and the Common Fisheries Policy review with clear priorities. These are the fundamental revision of quota shares, reflecting Ireland’s role as a major coastal state; fair burden sharing for the post-Brexit era; stronger protection for our waters; a policy that rewards climate responsibility; and one strong Irish negotiating position that is cross-departmental, at ministerial level and involving stakeholders. The fishing industry is not seeking special treatment; it is seeking fair treatment, a fair share of the resource that surrounds this island and a fair chance to survive. My commitment, which I hope is the commitment of this House, is to stand with our fishermen, crews, processors and coastal towns and villages throughout the country. Ireland is a proud maritime nation and deserves fairness. By God, we will fight for it.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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I would like to say a special word of welcome to the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who is here in his capacity as Minister of State for fisheries. I wish him the very best in his work. Go n-éirí go geal leat, Timmy.

On 1 January 1973, we acceded to what was known at the time as the European Economic Community. A little more than a half-century has passed since. Almost universally in our history, the economic and social well-being of this country have been greatly uplifted by our being a member of the European Economic Community, or, as it is now referred to, the European Union. However, if there is one section of our economic life that has bucked the trend of progression, it is our maritime fisheries, as is evident from what has happened to them in the past 50 years.

In 1986, as a young teacher, I was appointed as principal of the local boys’ school in Dunmore East. I worked there among the community for 19 years after that. While I never got my feet wet on board a beamer, I got to know very well the children from the fishing community, how the community lived and worked, and the tradition of fishing that was so vibrant in Dunmore East. That was then and this is now. In 1973, the year we acceded to the European Economic Community, we were experiencing the peak of our fishing years. There were dozens of trawlers home-ported in Dunmore East and annual landings measured in tens of thousands of tonnes. The oral history from people like Billy Power in Dunmore East suggests fishing in the town gradually rose to the heady days of the 1970s and 1980s. Dunmore East remains one of the six designated landing harbour centres, alongside Killybegs, Rosaveel, Daingean, Castletownbere and Howth, but the fleet is much smaller now. The redesignation of Dunmore East as a landing port for UK vessels in 2023 helped but the Irish-registered fleet itself has been greatly reduced since the 1970s. Current estimates suggest there are between 15 and 20 active home-ported vessels in Dunmore East.While precise figures for Dunmore East alone are not published, national records from 1973 show there were landings in excess of 200,000 tonnes annually. Dunmore East contributed a significant amount then, somewhere between 20,000 tonnes and 30,0000 tonnes per year. In 2023, catches were constrained by the EU’s dreaded quota and sustainability rules. Approximately 90% of all Irish fish landings occurs through those six ports aforementioned. Dunmore East annual landings are now estimated to be between 5,000 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes, consisting primarily of nephrops and mixed demersal species. Gone are the days when there was a persistent drive in whitefish and herring chasing. The contextual note of the decline from 1973 to 2023 reflects the broad trends from Dunmore East through the Irish sea fisheries 50 years later. Significant features include: fleet consolidation, with fewer but larger vessels; horrific quota restrictions with the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy; shifts in target policies from herring to whitefish; and economic diversification in the regions around the Wild Atlantic Way and Dunmore East with tourism. All of these things have impacted on the community there.

It has been 52 years since we joined the European Union. As a political scholar and someone who has observed these things, I cannot think of any section of time in those 52 years where certain parties were in charge of the running of the country. When it comes to fishing – it gives me no great pleasure to say this – we have an expression in politics and general life that someone was "asleep at the wheel". That expression might be changed a little bit with regard to the Governments that looked after our fisheries in the past 52 years. They were not asleep at the wheel but, rather, fast asleep in the wheelhouse. That is why we are left with this. It is a bit rich to stand here today talking about regenerating our industry when we have seen the decimation done. It was not Billy Power or Joe Taylor down in Dunmore East who did the negotiating; it was our Governments during that time. The expression “Late have I loved thee” is relevant in this regard. It is a Damascene conversion that we see here today. I applaud the people in the Government who are bringing forward this motion because even though it is late in the day to be talking about saving Irish sea fishing, it is a worthwhile motion. Of course, I support it and so does everyone in the Seanad Independent Group. However, a lot of damage is being done and I know, as do all Members, who was in charge when all of that damage was done.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Deputy Neville and his guests to the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today.

Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail)
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First, I am delighted to support my Donegal colleague’s motion on sea fisheries I congratulate him on bringing it forward. Fianna Fáil welcomes this debate and will not be opposing the motion. I am delighted that the Minister of State is here. That he has his key officials with him shows the importance he is offering to the motion put in front of the House today. I commend him on being here.

Ireland’s waters are one of our most valuable natural resources. Our coastline of 7,500 km is one of the longest in the EU. Fianna Fáil deeply values the role of fisheries in the future of our country and those who rely on this activity for their livelihood. The one part of the motion I wish to highlight the most is where it calls on the Government to oppose any further concessions that allow third countries disproportionate access to Irish waters while showing disregard for the scientific advice of ICES. That is really the key point at the moment, considering negotiations that the Minister of State is in the middle of and those that will take place over the next month or two. It is a pertinent part of the motion. I wish the Minister of State well in his negotiations.

We have now re-established the role of the Minister of State. He is in place and has secured a significant budget of €157.7 million to support the fisheries sector for 2026. That has to be welcomed. This funding will continue to provide supports to key capital infrastructure projects in our fishery harbour centres, the seafood development programme and the important work carried out by our marine agencies.

The recommendations of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea on 2026 fish stocks poses a significant challenge. At EU level, the Council of Ministers is expected to vote on the annual total allowable catches, TAC, and quotas regulation on 12 and 13 December 2025.

Fianna Fáil is committed to continue to support our fishing communities and agriculture sectors. I grew up in Donegal and visited places like Killybegs and Greencastle. I was also a member on the council with Senator Boyle’s father. I have seen how deeply people have fought over the years for the rights of fishermen and fish stocks. It is a tradition that is, in some way, in dire need of Government attention. I know we are giving that attention now with the appointment of the Minister of State to this role but we have a job on our hands. Even if you just take the mackerel quota, there is strain there. These third countries are posing an awful problem for us.

At both EU and international level, we will stand up for fisheries in quota negotiations in order to return the maximum yield while maintaining stock levels according to the latest scientific evidence.

I will finish with the point I made regarding the overfishing by third countries. It is important that we use whatever mechanisms we can find at EU level to stop countries like Norway overfishing. In the context of fishing, it is important that we do not forget our inshore fishermen and how are important they are. That is another day’s work, but they play an important part in the fishing sector. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 1:

After the last paragraph under “calls on the Government to:”, to insert the following paragraph: - “stand up for our Irish fishing communities by demanding our fair share of the fish in Irish waters and by challenging the failings in the existing Common Fisheries Policy that facilitate this injustice.”

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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I second the amendment.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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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.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Before we move on, I welcome guests of Deputy John Connolly. They are students from the University of Galway and they are very welcome here this evening. I hope they enjoy their visit here today.

Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State and compliment my Fine Gael colleagues on the motion. We are obviously supporting it.

I live in a place called Kilbeggan and you cannot get any more central in the country than there. Yet, having said that, traffic permitting and without breaking the speed limit, I can be on the west coast or the east coast in an hour and 15 minutes maximum. If you were that close to a coast in many other countries, you would say you lived on the coast. I can never figure out why we do not eat more fish as an island nation. A big part of the Minister of State's work going forward would be to promote the produce of our fishermen and fisherwomen on our own island. We need to evolve into fish eaters. That would go halfway to solving the problems.

There are many problems there. The Minister of State has inherited a bit of a minefield. I note the Council meeting that is coming up. Our total allowed catch would be a lot less if it was not for the Hague preferences and I know there is pressure being put on by the French and Dutch, in particular, that the Hague preferences might not kick in on this occasion. That is something that must be fought hard against.

As an inland beef farmer, the fishermen saved the day when it came to Brexit. That has to be recognised and acknowledged by other sectors. The Government could and should allocate a little bit more of our own funding towards the sector. That could and should be explained to the other sectors, even if it was a little bit of robbing Peter to pay Paul. I will not be thanked by the people in my own sector for saying what I am saying, but the fishermen and fisherwomen saved the day. Brexit would have wiped a lot of other sectors off the map. The sacrifice was made by the fishing sector. It would be appropriate they would get rewarded for that.

I would like to see a scheme for fishermen, and the inshore fishermen and fisherwomen in particular, that is similar to TAMS in the other agricultural sectors. Senator Boyle said it. There are schemes there at the moment. I know the Minister of State is tied on this somewhat by state aid rules and the de minimis rules and all of that, but to modify an old boat for safety reasons can sometimes be a fruitless exercise. It could be a lot more profitable, going forward, to actually replace the whole boat and get a new rig as opposed to trying to make changes on an ongoing basis to outdated equipment. I would like to see a scheme for fishermen and fisherwomen, similar to TAMS in the other agricultural sectors, where there would be grant aid available for upgrading their equipment.

I know the Minister of State has met the Commissioner on numerous occasions and I hope in the battle - it is a battle - that the Minister of State really goes hard on the third countries. The problem is our fishermen live by the book. They live by the rules that are set by Europe and they fish with biology and security in mind. They keep to the allowable catches. It is so frustrating, even for the likes of me watching from a distance, to see third country boats coming in and robbing our waters. They are decimating the stock for the future. It is not just about what they take out on any given day. It is the consequences of their actions going forward for the numbers that will be available for the people who are sticking to the rules. I do not know how the Minister of State can do it and it is a new Ministry but that will be one of the big tasks for him, going forward, to take control of the situation with what we call third countries.

That is enough of a wish list for the Minister of State. He has a battle on his hands but I know him of old. If I was in a bit of scrap, there is no one I would like better to have on my shoulder than Timmy Dooley so I have no doubt he will fight the good fight. It needs to be fought. The next Council will determine fishing in this country for a long time to come.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I understand Senators Kyne and Kennelly are sharing time.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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We are, if that is agreed.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming here in person. I acknowledge Senator Boyle and Senator O'Donovan for leading off on this Private Members' business about the fishing sector. I do not believe it is ever too late to discuss any of our native and primary industries. In some ways, it has been the poor relation of agriculture, no doubt, since we joined the EEC, which is now the European Union. That is not to say it does not have a future and does not need continued assessment and support.

I welcome the appointment of the Minister of State. It is very much an identifiable, stand-alone sector that deserves a Minister of State to deal with the issues. On a slight side note, I am a member of the defence and security committee and we were in Gormanston, County Meath last week to see the investment in facilities there and hear about recruitment into our Naval Service, which goes hand in hand with fisheries protection. There is a way to go but at least there is a positive trend in the recruitment of naval personnel, which will be important for protecting our waters.

The European Union has put its faith in the scientific advice about these things. In some ways, that has tied the hands of Ministers over the years, along with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Advice is that and it also has to be advice that is sensible, implementable and agreeable. Rules and decisions that are made must be abided by all relevant participants. The concerns expressed in this motion regarding third nations is hugely important because there is a view that third nations, including Norway, have too much sway on our waters and the fish stocks. It is important to recognise that agreeing a motion like this today strengthens the Minister of State's hand in terms of the work he has to do on behalf of the Department, the fishermen and the State. Therefore, the motion is important.I also acknowledge the investment that has taken place in ports across the country. There is always more to do, no more than on our road network or our schools. A pipeline of further development is always needed. I acknowledge, as I have done before, the work of the former Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and his work in Rossaveal, County Galway. You hear stories of hundreds employed in the past in places like Rossaveal in the fishing sector, and boatloads of fish coming ashore. That is not the reality now unfortunately. I acknowledge the work that has gone into this motion and look forward to the Minister of State's response on this and his plans going forward.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I speak in strong support of this motion. My fellow Fine Gael Senators Boyle and O'Donovan have been at the forefront since becoming Senators in protecting the livelihoods of fishing communities in counties Donegal and Cork. That has to be respected. This motion speaks directly to the livelihoods of all our coastal communities and the fishing villages that have sustained Ireland for generations. I acknowledge the appointment of Deputy Dooley as Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries and the marine. As stated already, this is a solid move. His recent announcements of funding for harbour developments and the FLAG coastal community schemes are welcome. These must be matched with stronger protections for our fishermen and fisherwomen who face urgent and complex challenges. In Kerry's beautiful coastal fishing villages and towns, from Dingle to Castlegregory, over to Portmagee, Cahersiveen, Valentia Island, Cromane and Fenit, fishing is more than a job. It keeps our local economies alive, carries on traditions and holds our communities together, but our fishing families are under real pressure. Quota cuts, higher fuels and running costs and tough international rules are making it harder than ever for them to survive. Government investment in our ports under the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme, from which I welcome the contribution of €470,000 for the Dingle pier, is welcome but vigilance is still required. We cannot ignore the irresponsible behaviour of third countries like Norway, which has been mentioned, that refuse to set total allowable catches in line with the ICES scientific advice nor can we accept the arrangement that grants disproportionate access to Irish waters while disregarding sustainability. This undermines not only our fishermen but the very principle of fair partnership within the EU. That is why this motion calls on the Government to invoke the Hague preferences at the appropriate time to oppose further concessions and to safeguard shore-based services, processing, storage and transport that will keep jobs and economic activity alive in our villages. It calls for investment and modernisation in safety measures for our fleet and for targeted supports to small-scale and inshore fishers who are the custodians of traditional fishing practices and the heart of our coastal identity. This is about more than quotas and negotiations. It is about protecting the dignity of the work and sustaining our beautiful communities where every catch supports a family and ensuring that Ireland's fishing villages from Donegal to Kerry remain vibrant for generations to come.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I endorse the motion and thank the Fine Gael Senators for bringing such an important motion to the floor of the Upper House. I also thank the Minister of State for attending. However, I fear the motion does not go far enough. I support the Sinn Féin motions as well. My amendment speaks to the concerns consistently raised by fishers regarding the operational approach, transparency and consistency of enforcement by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. Fishermen across the country feel like they are standing on the deck of a sinking ship waiting for the industry they love to quietly disappear. Communities that thrived on fishing are now barely hanging on. I welcome the points raised in this motion, but it does not go far enough. It would be a disservice to every inshore and offshore fisherman if we fail to name one of the core issues staring them in the face. Those are the practices of the SFPA. This amendment simply recognises what the fishermen have been saying for years. There are serious concerns about the operational approach, transparency and consistency of enforcement by the authority. While the authority issues polished press releases proudly announcing the continued monitoring of inshore vessels to support conservation methods, inshore fishermen are fighting for a fairer quota just to survive. We support conservation efforts but we cannot see fishing communities themselves driven out of existence. The fishing community has no issue with regulations but the questionable practices of the SFPA are an issue. Recently a ten-year case was thrown out of court due to lack of evidence. The NSAI found that an officer of the SFPA allegedly tampered with evidence, which ultimately led to a wrong finding. After a ten-year legal battle, there was no comeback for that business or that family. We cannot keep ignoring the lived reality of fishermen who feel policed out of existence rather than supported. This amendment insists that their voices, frustrations and concerns be recognised in this House and acted upon. This amendment is crucial in ensuring fishing communities know that we hear their concerns and are willing to stand with them.

I will speak to amendment No. 5, to "review the governance, operational practices, and accountability structures of the [SFPA], and bring forward proposals to strengthen independent oversight and improve transparency and engagement with the fishing sector". If we are serious about securing the future of Irish fishing, we cannot continue pretending that all is well within the governance and accountability structures of the SFPA. I am saddened to say it, but the unwillingness to make the SFPA accountable is because the Minister and the Department do not want any culpability for their actions. With respect to the Minister of State, the previous Minister of agriculture, in particular, responded to criticism of the SFPA by throwing his hands up and saying it was an independent body and nothing to do with him. We had the chair of the SFPA before the fisheries committee last week and question after question put to him went unanswered. When I pressed him on whom he was accountable to, he said he was accountable to our committee. However, he answered no questions. It would have been laughable if it were not so serious. A regulator with enormous power over people's livelihoods should not be a law unto itself. I call on the Government to commit to a full review of the governance, operational practices and accountability of the SFPA and to bring forward concrete proposals to strengthen independent oversight and to improve transparency engagement with the sector. This amendment is about rebalancing the system, so fishers are treated with fairness, respect and transparency.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I compliment my colleagues Senators Boyle and O'Donovan for leading on the motion. I will not, like Senator Paul Daly, say that I am on a coastline or anything like that. I am a County Roscommon man but I understand the impact of certain sectors on rural communities, and I do not believe it is too late to be making changes. Looking back, we can always think of a time when it might have been a better decision but the next best time is right now, and that is what this motion is leading to. I highlight that the seafood economy is worth in the region of €1.24 billion in terms of GDP. Behind that headline are almost 17,000 men and women employed directly or indirectly in fishing, aquaculture, processing and the wider seafood chain. This is not a niche sector in our coastal communities. Bord Iascaigh Mhara's analysis shows that the seafood industry accounts for approximately 6% of all jobs in coastal areas, rising to as high as 14% in some of the most fishing dependent communities. In the main ports, over 8,700 jobs are supported and an estimated €736 million is generated for the economy each year. For many towns and villages, if fishing slows, everything slows. These are overwhelmingly indigenous family-owned businesses, local boat owners, small processors, ice plants, hauliers, engineers, net makers and co-ops that keep money circulating on the pier and on the high street. If those enterprises fail, there is no multinational waiting in the wings to replace them. What follows is out-migration, empty harbours and closed school gates. I acknowledge the Government's investment under the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme but for most indigenous fishing businesses the reality is that they are trying to survive with a squeeze from every direction.ICES scientific advice points towards quota reductions in key stocks. The costs of fuel, insurance and compliance are all climbing, as my colleagues have said. At the same time, international agreements have allowed third countries increased access to the waters around Ireland. We are particularly concerned where third countries, including Norway, seek quota shares and set total allowable catches that do not align with ICES advice. That is not responsible stewardship of shared stocks and it does not treat the EU or Ireland as an equal partner.

I acknowledge that I am sharing time with Senator Cathal Byrne but I will just say that protecting Ireland's indigenous fishing businesses is about much more than defending our coastal interests. It is about keeping coastal communities alive, sustaining local enterprise and ensuring that the wealth of our seas translates into real lasting security for the people who have depended on it for generations.

Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I support the motion put forward by my colleagues this evening. I recognise the contribution of the proposer of the motion, Senator Manus Boyle, who is the Fine Gael spokesperson on fisheries, in this area and the work that has been done my colleague, Senator Noel O'Donovan. Wexford is a very proud fishing county with a strong tradition of fishing, particularly in south Wexford, where we have the iconic Kilmore Quay, an area I recently had the opportunity to visit when I attended a mass commemorating those from County Wexford who were lost at sea. This motion makes a number of straightforward common-sense proposals. I urge the Minister of State to do his very best to make sure that each one of the commitments put forward in the motion is recognised and brought forward. The reality is that, for too long, our fishermen have felt their voice is not being heard at the top levels. That has to change. On behalf of fishermen in County Wexford, I urge the Minister of State to do his absolute best to make sure that voice is heard not just at Government level in this country, but in Brussels, in Europe and at the highest tables in the EU.

It is very important that our natural resources at sea are recognised for what they are, an Irish asset that cannot be abused by overseas trawlers from foreign waters coming into our waters and depleting assets that should be the inheritance of the next generation of fishermen here in this country. As with farming, if the next generation of fishermen and fisherwomen do not see this as a vital and crucial source of income, the industry will simply not exist. The industry is under the Minister of State's stewardship and I implore him to ensure sustainable measures are put in place now so that the next generation can take this up and so that the next generation in Kilmore Quay and other harbours across the country see it as a viable source of income.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here this evening for this very important discussion on supporting the fishing industry, which is holding on by a thread in certain communities. I compliment Senators Manus Boyle and Noel O'Donovan, who have done great work in representing fishermen and fisherwomen and coastal communities right across the country, for their leadership on this issue.

With regard to my home county of Mayo, I will specifically raise the issue of the hook and line-caught mackerel quota, which is affecting many families and the industry in the coastal communities of County Mayo. It is the same in every community. It is multigenerational. There is history, heritage and a huge depth of knowledge of the waters, of the industry and of the practice. The hook and line-caught mackerel quota is only 1% of the overall quota Ireland has got from the EU. That 1% is shared out among 1,500 vessels while the remaining 99% of the quota is shared among 50 vessels. The fishermen I have spoken to are totally aggrieved by this. They are pleading the case for this quota to be increased in whatever way it can be. If they do not use the quota, they are happy for it to be returned. I understand there are complexities.

I really welcome this motion as a demonstration that the House is strong in its support for the fishing industry right across the country. Let us project that support to our European counterparts on a united basis. We need to be very strong on it. We need to fight for multigenerational families who feel left out and aggrieved by the issues that have been mentioned. Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy regulation states that quotas should be shared out on a sustainable basis. In fairness, the hook-and-line fishermen are sustainable in their practices. This is a lifeline for families and for rural communities. There is a great depth of history to it. It needs help and support. An increased quota for these fishermen in Erris and right across the coast of County Mayo would result in a marked improvement in their livelihoods and for the successive generations that rely on this income.

I thank the Minister of State for his work on this. I also thank my colleagues across the House who have advocated very strongly on this pressing issue and the need to support the industry. As I have said, we need a united voice from the House so that we can fight the case internationally on behalf of families and communities right across the island.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the proposers, Senators Manus Boyle and Noel O'Donovan, the Fine Gael Senators who put together this comprehensive motion, and the other Senators who have contributed in a very collegiate and supportive way. I have spent a considerable amount of time in this House and I am constantly reminded that it does business in a very different way from how business may be done elsewhere. It is good to be part of that again.

Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)
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Welcome back.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to be back in this position. When I look around and see all of these competitive faces, I think I might struggle to survive an electoral contest with many of them. I am very appreciative of the time and the opportunity afforded to me to speak to Senators today. I welcome this motion, which is timely in light of the work the Department, the Government and I are doing in trying to get through a very difficult time.

I will commence by speaking a little bit on fisheries negotiations from an Irish perspective in the European context. I am Minister of State with special responsibility for fisheries. A number of Senators have welcomed the decision not so much to appoint me, but to establish that role. I am trying to work with others to the greatest extent possible to make that role meaningful. One of my key roles is that I manage the fishing opportunities for Ireland in the context of the quota species covered by the Common Fisheries Policy. As many of the Senators will be aware, the EU utilises the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, ICES - when I first saw that term, I had to check it because it has a different meaning in other contexts - to determine the relevant total allowable catches across the various different species. Most total allowable catches and quotas relevant to Ireland are set on foot of the formal negotiations between the EU and UK, because we share many stocks; separate negotiations between the EU, Norway and the UK; negotiations between the EU and Norway; and the coastal state negotiations, which involve the EU, UK, Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. A complex multiplicity of bilateral negotiations take place. Where Ireland is involved, the EU negotiates on our behalf, whether in the coastal states environment, which involves a number of third countries, or directly with the UK.As the conservation of marine biological resources under the Common Fisheries Policy is a Union competence, the European Commission has exclusive competence to negotiate on the EU's behalf on fisheries with third countries which have been identified. I recognise and will reflect on what many Senators have said about the activities of third countries. Ireland will continue to be active in raising the real and legitimate concerns that Ireland has on the outcomes in this particular area.

The issue of unsustainable fishing was a common theme for many Senators. The overfishing of key pelagic stocks, such as mackerel, by certain coastal states outside the EU has been raised by Ireland repeatedly over recent years. ICES assesses that the total spawning stock biomass of mackerel has decreased from about 6 million tonnes in 2021 to 2.7 million tonnes in 2025. That is a very clear indication that this overfishing has had a detrimental impact on the fish stocks, in the first instance. That has a significant knock-on effect on coastal communities. With the reductions in quota, it is very clear that the catching of fish, which is integral to those communities in terms of the processing and various activities that take place around that, and the supply chain into the fishing sector are dramatically impacted.

As the largest holder of EU quota for mackerel in the western waters area - the waters off the coast of Ireland - the devastating impact of the decline in this stock is significantly and acutely felt by Ireland. I have been consistently raising this issue with European colleagues since I took on this role. At last month's AGRIFISH meeting, I brought a discussion item to the agenda which was supported by 12 member states. I called for "urgent EU action to save the North East Atlantic pelagic Stocks". I also called for the EU to send a clear message that actions which threaten the sustainability of our shared stocks are not acceptable to the EU. Ireland asserts that a strong and common European position that is in the best interests of all fishing parties should be adopted. It is critical to ensure that these stocks are fished in a sustainable manner and that comprehensive agreements, which protect the EU's quota share and subsequently Ireland's quota share, can be reached to govern fishing opportunities for the coming year.

Although there is shared concern among member states about the impact of third country actions, particularly those of Norway, in respect of the pelagic stocks, the same member states are also anxious to conclude bilateral EU fisheries negotiations with Norway in respect of other species which, in some cases, provide greater opportunities for them and are of greater significance. For example, access to Norwegian waters for arctic cod is of importance to certain member states and is covered by the EU-Norway agreement. Additionally, two access agreements of importance to the North Sea member states are also involved. Commercial fishing operations with interests in a number of member states and beyond also want the agreement to facilitate their fishing interests. Consequently Ireland is, on occasion, isolated in EU co-ordination meetings when calling for strong measures. I think many Senators are aware of understand and know this fact. I have remained resolute in the face of consistent political pressure. I have set a policy mandate that Ireland does not to agree to any access or quota transfer for blue whiting in the context of the EU-Norway discussions. I do so from a principled position that we cannot be seen in any sense to reward in any way the behaviour these coastal states have engaged in. At a time when the scientific advice is recommending a cut of 70%, if that is not a trigger point, then what is?

While I am getting positive soundings for what we are saying, I am conscious that other member states have their own stocks that they want to get agreement on. For that reason, it is a balancing game. We remain engaged with member states and with the Commission. Before I came down from my office I had another conversation with the Commissioner and other member states. We are trying to arrange meetings over the coming weeks with all member states to set out very clearly how devastating the impact of Brexit has been for us. I do not need to remind Senators that there is a proposed 70% cut in mackerel this year. That is a really important stock. We took a 20% cut last year, on scientific advice, and Brexit introduced a cut of 26%. When we look at all of that together, we can see the devastating impact it has had.

Certain member states are at pains to remind Ireland that the Irish EEZ is considered EU waters under the CFP. I challenge them to consider how they would feel if third country fishing boats were given access to their waters despite their national position. That argument is gaining some traction with the Commission. There is a desire to say we are in this together. We have to try to get a consensus rather than rolling a country, which they can do under the qualified majority. We do not have an absolute veto any more, of course. We must try to do this in a collegiate way that looks to the future and to the conservation efforts needed to try to rebuild the stocks.

I will turn to the worrying position for 2026 and what the ICES advice is telling us. In September and October, the 2026 ICES report published deeply concerning advice for stocks of significant interest to Ireland. I have already mentioned mackerel, but blue whiting, boarfish and nephrops are in there as well. I am not a fisherman, so for a while so it was a challenge for me to contend with some of the terminology in this sector. I understand now that the term "nephrops" covers species like prawns and langoustines, which we get infrequently in County Clare. We enjoy them when we get them. The scale of these reductions has caused grave concerns for the seafood sector and for people in the coastal communities the Senators and I represent, which are economically dependent on it. As many Senators said in their contributions, these businesses, along with the other parts of the supply chain that many of them mentioned, keep fishing towns going. I refer to shops, fuel merchants, net menders, etc. These are all parts of the ecosystem of coastal communities. It is not as if there are lots of alternatives that can be swapped into these communities. They have been built around this industry. Therefore, there is an onus on all of us to find a way through this very difficult time.

These negotiations have not concluded yet, so the final numbers for quotas are unknown. An analysis by BIM, based on the scientific advice and on last year's average pricing for fish stocks, indicates a reduction of approximately €75.5 million. I need to qualify that this is overall first sale value across the Irish fleet. Reductions of approximately 47% for pelagic, 10% for demersal or whitefish, and 20% for shellfish in the nephrops space are envisaged. That is just the value of the fish when they are landed and sold. There are other losses as well in terms of what the processing sector will lose and what the continued onward sale of that will mean to other operators and wholesalers, etc. If we do not have the raw material, we cannot get the added value. While €75 million is the quantifiable number, the economic impact will be significantly greater than that. These values do not account for the economic impact along the whole value chain, particularly for fish processors and ancillary services, as I have mentioned. Members of this value chain, particularly in the processing sector for pelagic species, have expressed significant concern as to the viability of their businesses without the supply of raw material direct from Irish vessels. Lower supply means higher prices and consequently means having to compete throughout Europe for raw materials, so that is a further challenge. I have asked BIM to conduct an analysis on the multiplier effect of these reductions across the seafood sector. Working with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, a further memo to the Government will be brought forward when the full implications of the 2026 fishing opportunities are known. Two weeks ago, we drafted a memo which the Minister, Deputy Heydon, as the senior Minister, brought to the Government. It set out in the first instance a notification outlining that €75.5 million, but also setting out for the Government a very clear picture of the challenges faced. Senator Kyne had the privilege of sitting at the Cabinet so he knows how this works. When you come from the Department, you flag to your colleagues the concerns and then you look at how to manage that into the future.

Moving on from international negotiations, I would like to update Senators on how fishing opportunities are allocated between member states. A number of Senators spoke about how we might get more quota or a reallocation. The aim of the CFP is to allocate fishing opportunities internally among member states in such a way as to ensure the relative stability of the fishing activities of each member state for each fish stock or fishery. This is provided for in Article 16 of the CFP regulation and is further explained in some recitals of the CFP regulation. I think it is explained in recitals 35 to 37. For each stock a different allocation percentage per EU country, known as the relative stability key, is applied for the sharing out of the quotas.The share allocation of stocks between member states was established as a principle of the CFP in 1983. I do not want to indicate to anybody that I will be able to change what was enshrined back then. It was based on the average catch of each member state over a period of reference years, which is referred to as the "track record". There is no doubt our fleet was underdeveloped at that stage. It would not be fair for me to say that previous Ministers failed when they were unable to overturn what had happened. The reality is that our quotas, or our percentage of them, were based on what our fishing industry was at the time. Due to the work of some great innovators, particularly around the Killybegs area, we have developed that fleet in the intervening years. They have developed new fisheries. That has been what has assisted us in growing to some extent.

People often ask how we can change the relative stability key, or the percentage of the quota that is shared out, in order that Ireland can get more of the EU quota in percentage terms? This is a reasonable question in light of the level of fishing activity by other member states in our EEZ. However, I have to clarify to the House that any change to the existing system of quota allocations would require a majority of member states to agree under the qualified majority voting system. This would require other member states to give up their existing quota shares. Any change to relative stability would involve a loss for some other member states and therefore poses particular challenges in a qualified majority voting context. I say that to explain to Members the context in which any changes would come about. That is while the CFP remains as it is currently. The only exception to this relates to what are known as the Hague preferences, which are based on a special recognition agreement of the underdeveloped nature of the Irish fleet and the heavy control responsibility on us when Ireland joined the EU. The Hague preferences are quantities of fish that Ireland and previously the UK can invoke under certain circumstances. If Ireland does not achieve quotas greater than these trigger figures, they may invoke the Hague preferences. These additional fishing opportunities, traditionally referred to as the Hague preferences, have been allocated to Ireland each year since the late 1980s. This effectively means that quota from other member states is allocated from their share to Ireland. I have been fully forthright with other member states, and I signalled quite clearly at the November AGRIFISH Council meeting, that on full analysis of the finalised quota figures in the draft regulation to be presented at the December AGRIFISH Council meeting, we will invoke the relevant Hague preferences for 2026.

What makes it more contentious now than ever is that last year was the first year that the quota from an Irish perspective went below that trigger point for mackerel. It was there and it was used for other pelagic stocks in the past, but last year was the first time we invoked the Hague preferences, much to the annoyance of a number of member states which heretofore were not impacted as negatively as they feel they were on that occasion. For that reason they are actively attempting to undermine it. We have made it very clear that this is a red-line issue for us and that the Hague preferences as enshrined in the CFP, albeit in the recitals, are a fundamental component of the policy and we will defend them vigorously. BIM modelling shows that invoking the Hague preferences across the relevant stocks would increase Irish quota by approximately 7,300 tonnes and raise landed value by just over €13 million. That €13 million is very important. In other sectors, €13 million might not be considered a major number but when one sees the implications for that across coastal communities, it is very significant. This is really important. I note that this would only go a small way towards making up for the overall loss, estimated at over €75 million, arising from the scientific advice. I have explained what that €75 million means and what it does not include.

It is important to note that the Hague preferences are not set out in the Commission's TACs or in the quota regulation proposal, and must be agreed by the Council. As I said, a number of impacted member states are actively campaigning against us but I am confident, based on the reference in the recitals of the CFP, that they can be deployed and accepted by other member states. Let me assure this House that I will not be found wanting in battling for Ireland's Hague preferences to be secured. I am in ongoing contact with the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, on these matters of huge importance to Ireland, in addition to the political leaders with responsibility for fisheries across the EU member states. Similarly, my officials in Brussels and at home are working diligently to progress with mandate we have provided them with.

As Senators noted, the programme for Government recognises the valuable "role of fisheries in the future of our country and the communities that rely on this activity for their livelihood". Furthermore, it notes the commitment of this Government to "Defend Irish fishing interests" in the context of fisheries negotiations between the EU and third countries. Ireland's seafood development programme, which is funded by the Government and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027, is the primary funding programme for the seafood sector. Specific supports to individual inshore fishermen include the small-scale coastal fisheries, sustainable fisheries, V-notching and seafood training schemes. Financial supports are also available to inshore fishermen and women to support economic diversification under the FLAG schemes, which were mentioned by a number of Senators. If the Leas-Chathaoirleach will give me a small bit of latitude, I will conclude shortly. I want to work further with inshore fishermen, to whom financial supports are available. I have reached an agreement in the last day which I have shared with the producer organisations for the inshore fishermen. We have found a way to provide upfront payments to them, rather than them having to spend their own money and applying for it later. This is something they had asked for. I am committed in trying to assist them in every way I can. An additional Exchequer-funded fleet safety scheme is also available to inshore fishermen and fisherwomen to improve safety on vessels.

In March of this year, I announced an allocation of over €27 million to the Department's 2025 fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme. This comprises an investment package of €23.4 million for the six fisheries harbours and €4.3 million to assist local authorities in carrying out small-scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. I will endeavour to continue this investment as public finances and annual budgets allow.

I welcome this timely motion proposed by Senators. I can confirm that the Government can accept amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 3. I think amendments Nos. 2 and 3 are yet to be moved but if they are moved, we will certainly accept them. These amendments have been submitted by Senators Collins, Conor Murphy, McCormack, Tully, Nicole Ryan and Andrews of Sinn Féin. However, the Government cannot accept amendments Nos. 4 and 5, as submitted by Senators Sarah O'Reilly, Mullen and Keogan, as I am advised that they are unnecessarily prejudicial to a legitimate control and enforcement agency of the State. I am sorry I have to do that. Senator Sarah O’Reilly is a very strong contributor at the committee and has shown a great passion and understanding of the fishing sector. I want to thank her for her ongoing work on this. I am sorry that I have to disappoint in this regard but I know where she is coming from. I saw some of the footage from that committee. I understand that from time to time it is difficult for officials to go before a committee. One could almost do a comparison with bringing the gardaí into a committee to ask them about certain investigations or how they do their business. That might provoke a certain response. I have the capacity to talk to the SFPA. I will have a conversation with it about how it might engage in as full a way as it can with the committee - recognising the constraints it is under, what the law provides and how it has to protect its role - and try to engage in as proactive a way as possible because the committee is ultimately the oversight for the SFPA. I know it is difficult because it cannot get into individual cases but there has to be a better way to talk about the generality of the issues that arise.While I do not have the capacity to direct the SFPA in that regard, I will offer comforting words, if they are of benefit, to ask for an engagement that will hopefully meet the needs and expectations, but I say that without prejudice, recognising the independent role of the SFPA.

I agree with many of the speakers that the proposed quota cuts present real and significant challenges to the viability of our fleet and the ancillary services that support the seafood sector in rural communities. As I stated, a detailed economic assessment of the impact on the fishing communities will be undertaken by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM. This will include the impact on areas across the fleet. As Minister of State, I have committed to working closely across government to assess what supports may be available to the sector in the context of state aid rules and future available funds. I have had very good engagement from the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste. I know Senator Boyle had numerous conversations with the Tánaiste when he was Minister for foreign affairs. He is now Minister for Finance, so we hope some of those comforting tones that he provided will transfer into financial supports. He has been in touch with me. I know he is committed to the sector. Collectively, we can move it forward. Further, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, brought that memorandum to the Government and we will continue to update colleagues on that. I thank Senators. I thank the Acting Chair-----

Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is very welcome. I promised some latitude.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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-----for giving me a little latitude and flexibility. I think it was important because of the real engagement that we all had this evening and the fact that it is being done in a collegiate way. The normal battle lines seem to have been put aside for the moment, although I am sure they will be back on another occasion when they will be slightly different. I do not know whether it is permissible, but maybe we could recognise a former colleague of mine, the former Senator Coffey, who was with us in the Seanad, went on to greater things and has now gone on to much greater things. He has proven to all of us that there is life after politics, so we recognise his presence too and thank him for that.

Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the former Senator, TD and Minister Paudie Coffey, Paul Fox and Belén Martí from Edwards Lifesciences. They are all very welcome to the Chamber. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I thank all my fellow Senators, cross-party. When the Minister of State is going to Europe, he knows there is one united voice behind the fishing industry in Ireland. It is important that we get a deal for our fishermen. For far too long, as a fellow Senator said, we have been the poor relation at the table. It is time that we got a good deal for Ireland and stood up for our people.

A fellow Senator said it is a bit too late. Maybe it is. I do not know. I started on his journey four years ago when we were sitting in a canteen and a couple of my men asked me what I was going to do about it, because nobody was doing anything. We were loading a freezer boat that day and I was asking myself what we could do. I met my father on the pier and said to him that the boys were in bad humour because nothing was being done. Senator Blaney knows him well. He said to me, "Manus, one thing you have to do is stand up for things that you think are wrong." That evening, I decided to call a meeting in Killybegs. That was a Thursday evening. On a Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock, we had more than 300 people in the Tara Hotel. I wanted to take a stand for what is right. The fishing industry has been decimated for years upon years. Nobody cared.

When I first came to this House four years ago, it was very hard to even get a meeting. In fairness to the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, he was the only one who opened the door. I spent weeks coming here, along with fish processors and everything, trying to get meetings, but in fairness to him, he took a lead on it. I must credit the now Tánaiste, Simon Harris. Since the minute he rang me, he has given me 100% support for the fishing industry. We need that. We really do, because we got so many bad deals over the years.

As the Minister of State said, Brexit introduced a cut of 26%. It beggars belief how we could give away so much to other countries. The nearest only gives 6%. Ireland was done over with that. We all heard in Killybegs at that time that we should not worry about it because burden-sharing was coming and it would be sorted. It was never sorted. We are only feeling it now in our ports. Standing on the pier, you see the boats tied to the pier, and every other nation is fishing. It is hard for the Irish people to look at the ship automatic identification system, SIS, and see that there are Belgians, French, Spanish and Dutch off the Irish coast, fishing away, yet our boats are tied to the pier. Our coastal communities are decimated by it. We can talk to the inshore fishermen. They are feeling the pain. So are the island fishermen, who are getting cut too. They really need support. I cannot understand how the EEC can let Norway come in and fish in exclusive economic zone waters, as the Minister of State said, without a contribution to Ireland. We got a deal a couple of years ago where we let them in for 150,000 tonnes and Ireland got 10,000 tonnes. I do not know who is doing the maths but there was a bad deal. That needs to be stopped.

The Minister of State, since the moment I met him, has said he would stand up for it and he is standing up, as is the whole Government, but we really need everybody to stand up. There are 17,000 jobs in the fishing industry. If we lost 17,000 jobs anywhere, it would leave an enormous hole. As the Minister of State said, the service industry has grown up around these places, in Killybegs, Castletown and Howth. They are all part of the industry, including net makers, engineering companies, hydraulic companies and boat builders. They all employ people. Those people's jobs will be in jeopardy. If they go, our communities will be decimated. In the eighties, Killybegs had a football team and it was top of the division. Now, we are struggling to get a team. We have a good team, in fairness, but compared with the eighties, when we were winning all around us, it is a big difference. You see the difference, even in the school numbers, because people are leaving. They are going to offshore wind farms and to Australia. They really have to because you cannot stay around.

At one time, the fishing industry would work in Killybegs from September to May. Now you are lucky if you get a month's work out of it. It is devastating for coastal communities. The Minister of State talked about the Tánaiste. We need to be looking down the road of Government supports if things go very wrong. It is the last thing any fisherman wants to hear or see. All we want is fish. We are happy if we get the quota and can fish away, but the Government has to look at supports down the line.

Finally, I wonder how to put this nicely. We really need to strengthen our hand in Brussels. It is one of the most important things. My colleague Senator O'Donovan was with me last time. It is important that we get a strong team there.

Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael)
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I welcome our colleague Senator Aubrey McCarthy, who is here with the board members of Tiglin, a homelessness and addiction charity that does fantastic work. Tá fáilte romhaibh ar fad.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 2:

In the fifth paragraph under “calls on the Government to:”, to delete “small-scale and inshore fishers” and substitute “small-scale, inshore and island fisher-men and women”;

Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)
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I second the amendment.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 3:

To delete the fourth paragraph under “That Seanad Éireann:” and substitute the following: - “notes the investment by Government in some ports, harbours and piers, under the Fisheries Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme and the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund;”

Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)
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I second the amendment.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I move amendment No. 4:

After the the last paragraph under “That Seanad Éireann:”, to insert the following paragraph: - “the concerns consistently raised by fishers regarding the operational approach, transparency and consistency of enforcement by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority;”

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I second the amendment.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the Bolton Street class of 1991 to 1994. If Members want to know any secrets from my days in college, they are the people to ask. Thankfully, there was no social media back then so absolutely nothing happened and everything is a rumour and hearsay. They will be in the bar later and if Members want to hear about my time as the class representative, and there was some issue about calculators, though I cannot remember the details, they will tell them all about it.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I move amendment No. 5:

After the last paragraph under “calls on the Government to:”, to insert the following paragraph:

- “review the governance, operational practices, and accountability structures of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, and bring forward proposals to strengthen independent oversight and improve transparency and engagement with the fishing sector.”

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I second the amendment.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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When is it proposed to sit again?

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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Tomorrow morning at 9.30.