Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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605. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale for the Irish Sea Fishery Board withdrawing funding for vessels that apply for a grant to buy a jigging machine to fish using the hook and line method; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34888/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has implemented a Sustainable Fisheries Scheme providing grants to fishing vessel owners for purchase of certain types of equipment for use on board. Jigging machines were among the types of equipment aided.

After a very successful implementation, the EMFF Programme is now nearing its natural end and funds are almost exhausted. BIM suspended the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme in June 2020 as it had exhausted its budget. Following a recent review of remaining budgets, I have agreed to re-allocate a small amount of remaining funds to facilitate a limited re-opening shortly of the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme, pending the preparation of a new Seafood Development Programme for the 2021-27 period.

The Deputy should be aware that BIM has not withdrawn any previous offers of grant aid for jigging machines.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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606. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase the mackerel quota for boats of less than 15 metres in length to 3,000 tonnes annually effective from 1 July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34889/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The mackerel allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for under 15 meter vessels using hook and line as a means of fishing was set down in Policy in 2010. The then Minister amended the Mackerel policy in July 2017 after intensive review and public consultation. This amendment did not involve the hook and line fishery. The mackerel Policy sets down that the hook and line fishery for vessels under 15m in overall length receive 400t.

In order to amend Mackerel Policy, I must be satisfied that there is satisfactory evidence of changed circumstances to justify a policy review. If I consider there is a case for review of any aspect policy, it would require due process involving an assessment of all issues arising, including full public consultation.

There has been, for the past 20 years or so, intensive competition within the industry for access to and a higher share of the mackerel quota. The EU/U.K. Trade and Co-operation Agreement provides for the transfer of 26% of Ireland’s mackerel quota by 2026 to the U.K. This will only increase demands for higher shares of Ireland’s quota from all sectors within the fishing fleet. The Deputy should be aware that the 400t for the hook and line fishery has not been reduced and has remained the same as in previous years.

Unfortunately, the situation is that if there is an increase for any sector in the allocation made available, such as for the boats less than 15 meters in the hook and line fishery, it must be taken from others who are already facing significant cuts under the EU/ U.K. TCA.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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607. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will accept the advice of the European Commission and proceed to seek compensation for persons (details supplied) under the European Fund for Maritime and Fisheries in relation to a former Irish fishing boat; if he will honour his previous commitment to meet with the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34892/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the very unfortunate situation the person named person finds himself in due to his purchase of an unstable fishing vessel in the Netherlands in 2007. The situation that arose relates to a private commercial transaction between two contracting parties to purchase a vessel. The responsibility for ensuring the authenticity of the details, specifications and stability of the vessel being purchased rested with the purchaser.

The core issue here relates to the safety and safety certification of the vessel purchased. The safety of fishing vessels and safety certification, including matters relating to stability, is the responsibility of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has no function in relation to the safety certification of Fishing vessels or matters arising in relation to their stability.

My Department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme is the principal source of development funding for our seafood sector. The Programme is implemented under the provisions of the EMFF Regulation (508/2014) which specifies to what purposes funds can be granted. There is no particular provision of the EMFF Regulation that would facilitate an ex-gratia payment to assist in the case raised by the Deputy.

Furthermore, it is not possible to provide a grant for the decommissioning of the vessel concerned, as under the terms of the EMFF Regulation, decommissioning is not permitted after 31 December 2018. A new EU Regulation for the 2021-27 period is expected to be enacted in July 2021 and while the draft Regulation may permit decommissioning in the future, it may only be implemented for very specific purposes concerned with addressing an identified imbalance in a particular fleet segment and only for active fishing vessels.

When these matters were raised with me at a recent virtual Townhall Meeting, I agreed to have a one-to-one telephone conversation in the context of my Ministerial legislative remit. I am making arrangements to have this telephone conversation shortly.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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608. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the name of each State agency involved in the administration, management and policing of inshore and offshore fishing in Ireland; the number of employees in each State agency in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34996/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The agencies listed below, under the aegis of my Department, are involved in administration, management and policing of inshore and offshore fishing in Ireland, the total staffing for each agency is shown in tabular form below.

Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA): The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is Ireland's competent authority for sea-fisheries protection and seafood safety and carries out a number of functions including protecting and conserving fisheries resources for long-term use, promoting compliance with sea-fisheries legislation and ensuring seafood safety.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)

BIM is the Irish State agency responsible for developing the Irish seafood industry. It supports the development of the Irish seafood sector by providing technical expertise, business support, funding schemes, training opportunities, advisory services and promoting responsible environmental practice.

The Marine Institute (MI)

The Marine Institute is the state agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland. It provides scientific and technical advice to the Government to inform policy and support the sustainable development of Ireland's marine resources.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)is under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and is the state agency responsible for the conservation, protection, management, marketing, development and improvement of inland fisheries and sea angling resources.