Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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701. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if fisheries will be a priority for the Government in view of the hearing of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the actions taken to date in terms of highlighting the priority of fisheries in all of the other member states and at EU Commission level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18274/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I listened to the hearing in the Oireachtas Committee with great interest and of course I engage regularly with the contributors to that debate. They, and I, understand the potential very serious threat to our fishing communities posed by Brexit. 

As both I and An Taoiseach have stated before, fisheries is, and will remain, a high priority for Ireland in the Brexit negotiations.  We intend to ensure that fisheries remains high on the Brexit agenda in the EU and that the interests of Ireland's fishing communities are fully protected.

I have established a dedicated Brexit unit in my Department and a special focus has been placed on fisheries.  I held a Seafood Sectoral Civic Dialogue and arranged a meeting between Industry, myself, and An Taoiseach in February to ensure that stakeholders are included in this process. 

I have recently held a further series of meetings with key fisheries Ministers and we are working closely at all levels with a like minded group of fishing Member States (Belgium, Denmark, France, Spain, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands) to ensure that fisheries remains a top priority in the negotiations to come. Protecting existing shares will be a top priority for that group.  

In terms of the European Commission, I have had a number of discussions with Commissioner Vella on this topic and there is ongoing contact between my officials and relevant Commission officials.

In conclusion, I would like to assure the Deputy that I will be unequivocal in ensuring that Irish fisheries remain a priority during negotiations, and opposing any dilution of our existing EU quota shares, including protecting the benefit to Ireland of the Hague Preferences, and any limitations on our existing rights of access.