Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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831. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will bring forward a fishery harbour centres (amendment) Bill. [6202/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 provides for the establishment of State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) as locations in which to promote and develop sea fishing activities. Since the introduction of the Act, six FHCs have been established in Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros an Mhíl. Overall responsibility for their management and operation rests with my Department. At the end of 2019, the six FHCs were valued at €456m. In 2020, just under 90% of all fish landed into Ireland arrived at the FHCs.

In addition to the fisheries and seafood production industries, the FHCs are accommodating increasing amounts of diverse commercial business including commercial cargo traffic, restaurants and other leisure, tourism and social activities.

The Act has been amended on a number of occasions since its introduction. A review of the Act in its entirety is now being commenced by my Department and is expected to encompass an appropriate consultation process. The development of any Bill would follow on from these steps.