Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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383. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to ensure the EU-wide review of the CFP, the Common Fisheries Policy, includes special emphasis on Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23228/26]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has consistently called for the Commission to fully analyse and report on the impacts of Brexit on the CFP, and in particular, the impact on the EU and Member States’ fishing opportunities as a result of quota transfers under the EU-UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement.

The European Commission’s evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation is currently ongoing. I have emphasised to Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, the importance of this evaluation in addressing the impacts of Brexit on our fishing sector when Ireland carried a disproportionate burden of the quota transfers to the UK under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

The outcome of this evaluation is expected in Q2 2026. Ireland will continue to advance discussions on the outcomes of the evaluation and consideration of next steps during our Presidency.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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384. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he accepts that the EU December Agri/Fish Council meeting was a major blow to Ireland's fishing quotas and to fishing families across the country, where the mackerel quota suffered the greatest cut; if he will make every effort to ensure Ireland can be allocated an increased quota share for 2027 as this would provide a much-needed boost to the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23229/26]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The outcomes of the December 2025 Fisheries Council will, regrettably, result in reduced fishing opportunities for Ireland's fishermen and women in 2026.

The most significant reduction relates to the Mackerel quota and, as this is Ireland's most important pelagic stock, this will present ongoing challenges for our seafood sector and the coastal communities that depend upon it.

I have consistently highlighted the need for the EU to take concrete steps to protect the Mackerel stock and to robustly defend the EU's share at the ongoing Coastal States negotiations on a new sharing arrangement for Mackerel. I am also engaging regularly with the Fisheries Commissioner, Costal Kadis, on this matter.

Regarding Ireland's quota share, any change to the existing system of quota allocations would require a majority of Member States to agree under the qualified majority voting system. This would require other Member States to give up existing quota shares. Any change to relative stability would involve a loss for some other Member States and therefore poses particular challenges in a qualified majority voting context. Nonetheless, I will continue to pursue every opportunity at EU level to increase the available quotas for our fishing fleet.

Given the level of the challenges posed by the reduction in Ireland’s fishing opportunities for 2026, a whole of Government approach is required for an effective response. Minister Heydon and I have committed to engaging with colleagues across Government to assess what framework of supports may be available to the seafood sector, to explore options within the constraints of both EU and national Exchequer funding and the relevant EU and national legislation, and in particular taking account of the constraints imposed by EU state aid rules for the fisheries sector.

To facilitate this cross-Governmental approach, together with Minister Heydon, I have established a working group under the auspices of Food Vision 2030.

This Group will consider the challenges facing all three components of the Irish seafood sector – catch fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing. The Group’s overarching objective is to identify and develop a framework of measures to respond to these current challenges. In doing so, I encourage the Group to identify solutions to improve competitiveness and efficiency; to develop existing market opportunities; to consider how the sector can contribute to our national environmental goals; and to consider where the sector can innovate.

The Group's Chair, Mr. Michael Berkery, has been tasked with drafting a Chairman's Report by June this year.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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385. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to take into consideration that there are vast amounts of bluefin tuna in Irish waters that the Irish Fishing Industry cannot benefit from; if he will do everything possible to secure a bluefin tuna quota to provide a welcome boost to our fishing industry given the value of bluefin tuna in international markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23230/26]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Bluefin Tuna quota available to the EU is allocated each year to Member States based on relative stability, as established in the late 1990s. At that time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for Bluefin Tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation.

A small Bluefin Tuna by-catch quota is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important Northern Albacore Tuna fishery and Celtic Sea Herring fishery, where there can be Bluefin Tuna by-catch.

In 2018, Ireland was successful in securing, for the first time, an agreement that allowed Ireland to set up a catch-tag-release fishery to contribute to the collection of scientific data for the Bluefin Tuna stock. A catch-tag-release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels has been in place since 2019 and supports the collection of valuable data on the migratory patterns of Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters. This fishery is most beneficial to Ireland as it increases our knowledge of the behaviour and abundance of Bluefin Tuna in northwestern waters, while also providing a small but valuable tourism benefit to peripheral coastal communities.

Ireland has made clear to EU Member States and the European Commission that it considers that there is a case for an allocation of Bluefin Tuna quota to be made available to Ireland for a targeted fishery. The case is supported by the data collected in the catch-tag-release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels.

Ireland has requested the opening of discussions at EU level to progress our case. However, opening up this issue is difficult as other Member States are resistant to any discussion on amending relative stability for this stock. Any change to the existing system of quota allocations would require a majority of Member States to agree under the qualified majority voting system. Any change to the current relative stability would involve a loss for some other Member States and, therefore, poses particular challenges in a qualified majority voting context.

Notwithstanding these challenges, I believe that there is a strong case for Ireland given the abundance of Bluefin Tuna in our waters, and I will continue to pursue it at every opportunity.