Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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493. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for recognition as a producer group will be granted to an association (details supplied); the details of outstanding issues that need to be resolved in order to process the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3215/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is the competent authority under the EU Common Market Organisation Regulation (1379/2013) for recognition of fisheries and aquaculture producer groups as EU Producer Organisations. In 2020, my Department published new national Recognition Criteria under the CMO to be satisfied by applicants for recognition. In line with the commitments in our Programme for Government to facilitate formation of Producer Organisations in the inshore fisheries sector, the new Recognition Criteria were introduced to make it easier for inshore fisheries producer groups to achieve recognition as a PO. Producer Organisation status has many advantages, including better negotiating strength in the market for producers, financial supports under my Department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme and certain protections under EU competition law.

In 2020, my Department received an application from the group named. The CMO Regulation provides for a timeframe of three months within which to determine an application for recognition, subject to receipt of all necessary information. On 15 July 2020, my Department wrote to the group named requesting additional information to assist in consideration of their application. They responded on some of the issues concerned, but a response is awaited on some others. These relate to organisational and procedural matters. Pending receipt of that information, consideration of the application is paused. My officials have discussed the status of the application with the group on a number of occasions and remain available to provide any additional guidance needed.

In line with the Programme for Government commitments, I also introduced new financial supports in 2020 under my Department’s EMFF Programme, making available to producer groups seeking recognition grants for IT equipment, office furniture, legal, accountancy and other relevant professional advice, website development costs and costs of room hire etc.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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494. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to designate additional ports to land fishing vessels from Northern Ireland, given recent difficulties in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3216/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Following consultation with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, I have decided to designate five additional Irish ports, for both Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) legislation and North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) purposes, to accept UK registered-Northern Ireland vessel landings.

The five new ports designated are Ros a Mhíl, Howth, Greencastle, Rathmullen and Burtonport for UK registered Northern Ireland vessels and join Killybegs and Castletownbere which continue to be designated for landings from vessels of any third country origin. Under the new designations, Ros a Mhíl and Howth will be able to accommodate landings of demersal stocks from vessels under 26 metres and will operate Monday to Friday from 10am to 10pm. Greencastle, Rathmullen and Burtonport will be designated for non-quota species landings from vessels under 18 metres and will operate from 2pm to 8pm from Monday to Friday.

From 1st January 2021, the United Kingdom is a third country and subject to IUU legislation and NEAFC requirements. This means that any UK registered vessel, including any Northern Ireland registered vessel, must comply with third country landing requirements when landing in the EU, including Irish ports. This is a direct result of Brexit and included in the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. Up until the conclusion of EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on Christmas Eve, it remained unclear whether Northern Ireland vessels that had access to Irish waters would continue to have such access.

The designation of extra Irish ports for landings by Northern Ireland vessels is an important decision, which will allow fishers in small vessels to continue their livelihoods following Brexit. It is important now more than ever, to support our fishers and fishing communities and to do all we can do help them continue their livelihoods. I am working to make sure the necessary notifications and requirements are in place to have these ports operational from 1st February 2021.

Any UK-Northern Ireland registered boats landing into any of the seven Irish ports will have to comply with additional documentary and procedural requirements as a result of Brexit. Designation of ports is within the State’s authority, but all requirements and protocols are subject to EU and international law and must be strictly adhered to to gain entry to ports.