Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have had ongoing engagement with fishing industry representatives since I took office last year and have met them on a number of occasions both in advance of the conclusion of the EU/UK Trade and Co-operation Agreeement and subsequent to its adoption.

In the recent period, an Taoiseach and I met with industry represenatives on 21st June to discuss some of the current issues and challenges facing the sector. An Taoiseach and I both welcomed the positive engagement and open dialogue with industry and reassured industry representatives of this Government's commitment to pursuing every opportunity at EU level to increase the available quotas for our fishing fleet and address the inequitable burden sharing placed on Ireland in the quota transfers in the TCA.

I had a further meeting with the fisheries Producer Organisations and industry representatives on 23rd June.

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.

As easing of COVID-19 restrictions now allows for meeting groups of people, I am arranging visits to coastal communities in the coming period and look forward to being able to engage in person on the pierside. I visited Howth Fishery Harbour Centre and Greencastle last week and I will visit other communities around our coast in the coming weeks.

I will continue to work with industry and with our EU partners to identify opportunities for growth and build a sustainable future for the sector.