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

1259. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reverse the approach to the Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017; if the Bill will be allowed to progress in 2025, if re-introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11128/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017 to which the Deputy refers was a Private Members’ Bill first introduced to Dáil Éireann in 2017. It sought to create a specific system for licensing island fishers to conduct small-scale coastal fishing activities, and the Bill would have provided regulatory powers for this purpose. The Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the last Dáil and Seanad.

I am advised that the Bill is not compatible with EU regulations supporting the Common Fisheries Policy and the national implementing legislation which gives effect to those provisions. This includes the Bill’s incompatibility with the national EU-compliant licensing system for sea-fishing as well as obligatory national quota management, amongst other legal difficulties.

However, I wish to assure the Deputy that I recognise the value and importance of maintaining vibrant island and rural sea-fishing communities. It must be stated that the current sea-fishing boat licensing legislation and procedures already allow residents of Ireland's offshore islands to enter the fishing fleet in the same manner as any other applicant.

My Department also completed the formal recognition process of the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO) as an EU Producer Organisation that focuses on our offshore islands and that of the National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) as an EU Producer Organisation for inshore fishers. Their recognition significantly improves the standing and advocacy of inshore fishers in sea-fisheries consultative processes, including the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC).

My Department will continue its work in supporting the small-scale fishing sector and to help ensure that sustainable, economic livelihoods are available to those fishing around our coast and residing on our offshore islands.