Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

572. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 611 of 30 June 2020, if he will provide the evidence on which the statement is based (details supplied). [14581/20]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In order to provide a safety net support scheme to fishermen during a period of market disruption caused by the Covid 19 Pandemic, complementing the income supports available from Government through the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme, and at the unanimous request of representatives of fishermen, a Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme was introduced with effect from June 2020. The Scheme adds to the income supports already available by supporting the fixed costs of fishermen who choose to avail of this safety net scheme by ceasing fishing for a one or two month period. Supports ranged from €500 per month for the smallest vessels under 8 metres to €6,000 per month for the very largest vessels over 24 metres.

Similar to fishing vessels from other EU member states including Spain, France and UK that continued to fish in the Irish EEZ, the vast majority of the Irish fishing fleet clearly considered it worthwhile to fish and just 66 vessel owners opted to tie-up their vessel in June.