Written answers

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishing Industry

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

631. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports that he plans to introduce for the struggling fish processing and exporting sector in this State, utilising the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. [44457/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 12 May I was pleased to launch the new €45 million Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme. The scheme delivers on a recommendation of the Seafood Taskforce and offers grant rates of between 30% and 50% for capital investment in SME seafood processing enterprises, varying depending on the degree of value added of the project.

The scheme is designed to counter the adverse consequences of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. It seeks to support the processing sector to engage in transformational change, mitigating the effects of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and Brexit, while also building more environmentally friendly, sustainable and competitive enterprises which serve the EU and wider global markets, create higher levels of employment more locally, and make better and more sustainable use of Irish landed or imported raw material. As the scheme is proposed for funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve this requires that investments are completed by 2023.

Separately, a Brexit Inshore Marketing Scheme, delivered by Bord Bia, is underway to promote sales of stocks of interest to inshore fishers, in order to boost prices at the quayside. The plan will focus on supporting the sales and promotion of inshore species such as Irish crab, lobster, whelks, inshore herring/mackerel and line caught hake and pollock on both the domestic and export markets. The 2022 marketing plan has a budget of €615,000. A further recommendation of the Taskforce was the establishment of a Brexit Seafood Processing Liquidity Scheme. The recommendation is being examined in the context of State Aid Guidelines and the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Regulation.

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund is now drawing to a close with only modest funds now remaining uncommitted, however the public consultation for its successor programme, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund has now concluded, with its submission to the European Commission for adoption due to take place in the coming weeks. This proposed €258m programme will earmark significant funding for areas such as processing, innovation and marketing among others.

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

632. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes to the Common Fisheries Policy that are anticipated in the time ahead in order to reflect the deeply unfair allocation of fish quotas to the Irish fishing fleet within the Irish exclusive economic zone. [44458/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation (Regulation EU 380/2013) provides that the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP by the end of 2022.

In December 2021, as the first step in the consultation process, the Commission launched online questionnaires relating to the review of both the CFP and the Regulation on the Common Organisation of Markets. In April 2022, the Commission published an analysis of the results of the online surveys. Meetings of regional groups of Member States and Advisory Councils have also taken place. The Commission closed the consultation process with a stakeholder event on 10 June.

The Commission has recently indicated that its report on the functioning of the CFP will take the form of a Communication, analysing the dimensions of the CFP (including governance, conservation measures, fleet management, landing obligation, data collection, control and the external dimension of the CFP). The Commission's Communication will look at the interaction between fisheries management and the objectives of the European Green Deal. In addition, the Communication will also address the social dimension of the CFP and consider how to improve the delivery of the CFP policy objectives. The Commission has indicated that the results of its consultation process will be factored into the preparation of the Communication.

I have consistently made clear over the past year the Irish Government’s assessment that the substantial changes brought about in fisheries policy as a result of the adoption of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement requires that internally within the EU, a comprehensive review be carried out of the CFP that would support changes to deliver a fair and equitable policy.

Earlier this year, I established a national Common Fisheries Policy Review group of relevant stakeholders to examine the issues that arise for Ireland in the context of the CFP Review, to advise me on priorities for the negotiations and to identify strategies most likely to influence the outcome of the review. The Group was chaired by Mr. John Malone, former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, and assisted by a steering committee comprising Mr. Micheál Ó Cinneide, former Director of the MI and EPA and Mr. Donal Maguire, former Director in BIM. The Group involved representatives of key stakeholders, including industry representative groups and the environmental NGOs.

The CFP Review Group submitted its final report to me on 29th July. The stakeholders have set out a number of recommendations on aspects of the CFP which need to be addressed in order to adapt to the monumental changes of recent years and ensure a sustainable future for the sector.

I have forwarded a copy of the report to the Fisheries Commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius. I have made clear that I am fully satisfied that this report demonstrates that there is need for legislative changes in the current policy to address the disproportionate impacts of the TCA and in the context of the new environmental challenges we are all facing. I have asked him to review the report's findings and recommendations and consider how these can be taken forward to support a fair and balanced CFP. I will also be bringing the report to Government for its information.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.