Written answers

Thursday, 20 May 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishing Communities

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress of the coastal townhall meetings; the status of the feedback received to date; the actions he plans to take to support coastal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27005/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the recent series of virtual Townhall meetings I held with coastal communities around Ireland.

I have had ongoing engagement with stakeholders in the seafood sector since I took office last year. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions I have not been able to engage with people on the pierside. The virtual Townhalls provided a means to interact directly with members of coastal communities, to hear directly from those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit and to hear their ideas about the future of their communities.

I held five regional meetings beginning with the East Coast (Louth and Howth) on 6th May and travelling around the coast to the South East (Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford), South West (Cork and Kerry), West (Clare, Galway, Mayo and Sligo) and finishing in the North West (Donegal) on 14th May.

I found the meetings very valuable and productive and heard from individual fishers and processors, fisheries representative groups and public representatives including local Councillors, TDs and MEPs. I also heard from other members of coastal communities who are not directly involved in the seafood sector, whose businesses and communities are nonetheless related on the sector.

The impact of Brexit on Ireland's seafood sector, and the coastal communities dependent on it, was understandably a major concern for people. I assured the attendees at the Townhalls that I, as Minister, and this Government continue to keep the focus on the disproportionate quota reductions for Ireland and to use any opportunity available to seek constructive solutions that would help to alleviate this unacceptable position.

Concerns were also raised regarding the findings of the EU Commission Inquiry in relation to control matters including the recent decision by the European Commission to remove Ireland's derogation for weighing of fish after transport. In respect of all operational control matters, I explained that, as Minister, I am expressly precluded from getting involved. The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. I understand that the SFPA is engaging with industry on relevant matters.

A wide range of other issues were discussed at the events including the importance of engagement with the industry on offshore wind development and the need for investment in smaller piers and harbours.

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