Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1288. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline his engagement with the inshore fishing sector concerning the upcoming Common Fisheries Policy negotiations. [55147/22]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1304. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on strengthening the Common Fisheries Policy for small-scale and inshore fleet segments in the upcoming negotiations on this policy. [55424/22]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1288 and 1304 together.

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation (Regulation EU 1380/2013) 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.

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 involved representatives of key industry and environmental stakeholders, including the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation and the National Inshore Fisheries Forum.

The CFP Review Group submitted its final report to me on 5th August. The Group is of the opinion that legislative changes are needed due to a number of critical issues confronting the fishing industry including, but not limited to, the impact of Brexit, the social and economic sustainability of fisheries dependent communities, food security, climate change and biodiversity loss. 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 EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement 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 also brought the report to Government for its information.

Last year, the Commission published a proposal to rollover the existing provisions relating to the restrictions on access to Member States’ 6-12 nautical mile zones for another ten years. I had sought exclusive access to inside the 12 nautical miles limit around Ireland for our own fishing fleet and engaged with the Commissioner and the Fisheries Ministers of the Member States with historic access to Ireland’s coastal waters (France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands) to progress this matter.

Other Member States did not support Ireland’s proposal and on 1st June 2022, a Council General Approach on the rollover of the existing provisions was adopted with only Ireland opposed. The European Parliament unfortunately has not supported Ireland’s requested amendment. The EU institutions will now proceed to adopt a roll over of the current access arrangements. However, Ireland was able to secure an amendment to the text which provides that both the duration and scope of this extension to the derogations may be revised in the framework of any review of the CFP.