Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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887. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the applications of organisations (details supplied) to become producer organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3731/21]

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 two applications from inshore fisheries producer groups, one of which was from the National Inshore Fishermen's Association CLG. The CMO Regulation provides for a time frame 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 NIFA requesting additional information to assist in consideration of their application. The NIFA responded on some of the issues concerned, but a response is awaited on some others. These relate to organisational and procedural matters, such as the constitution of the NIFA. Pending receipt of that information, consideration of the application from the NIFA is paused. My officials have discussed the status of the application with the NIFA on a number of occasions, but remain available to provide any additional guidance needed by the NIFA.

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.