Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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247. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to seek increased quotas to fish stocks during upcoming European negotiations following the Brexit trade deal which will have a significant impact on Ireland’s TAC’s in future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6117/21]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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248. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek increased share of fish quotas for species haddock, monk fish, hake, nephrops and mackerel based on the amount of fish caught by Irish vessels averaged over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6118/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.

At the time of the December 2020 Council of Fisheries Ministers (15-16 December), the agreement on the future relationship with the UK, including a fisheries agreement was not yet in place. Therefore, Fisheries Ministers agreed to set interim Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for the first quarter of 2021 to ensure continuity for the EU fishing fleet in the early part of the year, pending the outcome of consultations with UK.

I have sought increases in the provisional TACs for a number of seasonal stocks and the Commission has recently published a proposal to increase the provisional TACs for Nephrops in the Porcupine, Blue Whiting and Celtic Sea Whiting.

In accordance with the EU-UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the Commission will engage in consultations with the UK on the setting of fishing opportunities for 2021 on behalf of the EU. These consultations, which are being conducted by video conference, commenced this week. Member States attend the formal Plenary meeting. Regular co-ordination meetings through the Council Working Party are held during the negotiations where the Commission updates the Member States on issues/progress and the Member States set out their positions and respond to issues as they develop. Ireland is represented by officials from my Department. Industry representatives attend the Plenary meetings and are consulted on an ongoing basis.

The share allocation of stocks between Member States was established as a principle of the first Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 1983 and was based on the average catch of each Member State over a period of reference years (track record). The only exception to this relates to the Hague Preferences, on the basis of a special recognition agreement of the underdeveloped nature of the Irish fleet and the heavy control responsibility on us when Ireland joined the EU. The Hague Preferences give Ireland an increased share of traditional stocks (cod, whiting, haddock, sole and plaice) when TAC levels reduce below a specified level.

Any change to the existing system of quota allocations would require a majority of Member States to agree under the qualified majority voting system. This would require other Member States to give up existing quota shares. Any change to relative stability would involve a loss for some other Member States and therefore poses particular challenges in a qualified majority voting context.

The CFP is reviewed every 10 years and the next review is scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2022 when the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP. The EU Commission has advised that it intends to commence the Common Fisheries Policy review process following clarity on the future relationship between the EU and the UK. The review is expected to be detailed and comprehensive. At EU level, it is expected that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage actively in the review work including the fishing industry, eNGOs and Member States.

I will consider how Ireland will prepare for and participate actively and effectively in the upcoming review of the CFP, including the interaction with stakeholders, to prepare Ireland's case and identify priorities. I have previously stated that I am committed to using all opportunities including through the review of the CFP to secure additional quota shares where possible for Irish fishers.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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249. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when fishers will be informed of their allocated quota for horse mackerel in 2021; the reason there has been a delay in releasing this quota to Irish fishers when fishers from other European member states have received their allocation and have been fishing since the beginning of January 2021; when the allocation will be finalised and released to fishers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6119/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In preparation for the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, after which a large number of fishing stocks would become shared, the December Fisheries Council set provisional quotas for Member States that will, for 2021, be set following consultations with the UK. On 18^thDecember, provisional fishing opportunities for stocks shared with the UK were set at December Fisheries Council. 

The TACs for the period 1st January to 31st March 2021 were set for most stocks at 25% of last year's TACs and quotas.  However, I made a strong case that some fisheries are seasonal and are fished in the early part of the year and secured an increased TAC and  quota for these stocks including Horse Mackerel where the TAC and quota was set at 65% of the 2020 quota for the period 01 January to 31 March 2021. 

In order to allow Irish-registered fishing vessels to commence fishing for Horse Mackerel from 1^stJanuary 2021, on 22^ndDecember 2020, the Department issued fishing authorisations and catch limits for Horse Mackerel for the fishing period 1st January 2021 to 31st March 2021.  The available quota, as set at the December Council, was allocated in accordance with Ministerial policy for this stock with 10% held back for any adjustments arising from quota balancing of the 2020 Horse Mackerel fishery. This quota balancing is currently in progress and will be completed as early as possible.

We are seeking an increase in the provisional TAC for a number of our important seasonal stocks, including Horse Mackerel, in order that these fisheries reflect normal fishing patterns in the year.  However, the Commission proposal on increasing the TACs for the first three months does not include horse mackerel.  We will press for this  increase in the provisional TAC and quotas for this stock to be made available up to the end of March.

I am currently considering a request received from Industry representatives to increase the catch limit of Horse Mackerel to vessels for the Spring period on the basis of securing an interim swop of this stock from other Member States.