Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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500. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Brexit negotiations include a request for increased quota and support funding for fishing in view of the fact Ireland will be the most affected EU member state when British waters and quota are removed from the EU; if the Common Fisheries Policy quota and supports to 2020 will be increased in these circumstances; if he envisages quota and supports increasing post-2020; and if he will allocate funding to fishers in the absence of an EU increase in quota and supports. [22861/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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At this stage it is impossible to say with certainty what effect Brexit will have on the Irish fishing industry as we don't know yet what changes the UK may seek to the current arrangements.

The most serious issue facing the fishing and seafood sector is the kind of relationship the UK wants with the EU in terms of fisheries post-exit. When we have more clarity regarding what kind of relationship that the UK wants, we will work closely with our EU partners in trying to seek a new relationship with the UK.

The UK could seek to limit access to their waters and/or try to gain larger quota shares at the expense of others. However, that could only happen if the UK were content to ignore the potential repercussions that would certainly arise from the EU side.

Any attempt by the UK to alter the status quo at the expense of Ireland and others must, and will be, resisted strenuously.

It is important to note that the negotiations that will take place over the next few years are not a renegotiation of the Common Fisheries Policy. The CFP remains in place and will be reviewed in the normal way from 2019. The current Common Fisheries Policy came into force on the 1st of January 2014. The European Commission are obliged to report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the current Policy before 31st of December, 2022.

In the normal course of events, it would be expected that the Commission would begin the process of review by publishing a Green Paper followed by a public consultation at least 2/3 years prior to December 2022. However, that possible timetable may well be impacted by the Brexit negotiations.

In the immediate future, it is the Brexit negotiations that will be my absolute priority. When the review of the CFP does begin, I can assure the Deputy that Ireland will, as always, be fully engaged to ensure the best possible outcome for our fisheries sector and the coastal communities reliant upon it.

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing industry while supporting our families and communities that depend on the sea for their livelihood.

The overall EU budget available for the EU seafood sector in the next funding period will be the subject of future budget negotiations between the EU institutions. In the absence of the UK, the overall budget of the Union is likely to be lower, so difficult negotiations can be expected. The relative share of the EU seafood funding is determined by the Commission having regard to criteria specified in the EMFF Regulation and new criteria will be set out in a new funding regulation. These criteria will be an important focus of Ireland’s negotiating position for the next programming period and I will be seeking to ensure that they reflect Ireland’s needs.

I am and will remain in close contact with fisheries stakeholders as all of these issues develop and will continue to work with them to ensure that we are all fully prepared for what are likely to be extremely complex negotiations for both the UK’s exit from the EU and the subsequent CFP reform.