Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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248. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that December was omitted from the Brexit temporary tie-up scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26925/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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On 11 May, I announced a Brexit Voluntary Temporary Fishing Vessel Tie-up Scheme for the polyvalent and beam trawl fleets for 2022. The development of the scheme was based on a recommendation of the 'Report of the Seafood Task Force – ‘Navigating Change’ (October 2021). The 2022 scheme represents an extension of the 2021 tie-up which ran from October to December 2021 and which I launched rapidly following the publication of the Task Force report, in order to respond to the situation facing fishers.

The purpose of the scheme is to enable a reduction in quota uptake in 2022 so as to improve quota availability for the fleet overall throughout the remainder of the year. In light of the further quota cuts taking effect in 2022, I have modified the scheme compared to 2021, so that vessel owners can, if they wish, choose to tie-up for up to two calendar months. This enhanced tie-up opportunity will free up additional quota for those vessels continuing to fish, supporting viability in the wider fleet in these challenging times. Payment rates will be the same as for the 2021 scheme. Vessel owners participating in the 2022 scheme will again be required to distribute one third of that payment to crew.

The scheme is initially expected to operate over the period June to October, but I will be asking the European Commission to amend the approval of the scheme to encompass November so as to provide for an additional August/November tie-up option.

The scheme and its timing have been developed in order to mitigate for quota reductions while also ensuring the protection and continuity of the seafood supply chain. To this end, the majority of vessels choosing to tie-up for two months must maintain a two month gap between tie-up months, currently allowing for an individual vessel to tie-up for June and September or July and October. This period will have the greatest capacity to balance quota uptake throughout the year. Conversely, December is typically a shorter month for fishing and would negate some of the effectiveness of this scheme in achieving its objectives.

The scheme has also been developed in the context of the full suite of Task Force recommendations, such as a voluntary decommissioning scheme which is presently with the European Commission for its consideration of the scheme in terms of State Aid rules.