Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been urged to intervene in the EU fisheries quota negotiations.
The appeal was made by Oireachtas fisheries and maritime affairs committee chair Conor McGuinness as EU fisheries ministers met to finalise quotas in Brussels.
During a meeting of the Working Group of Committee Chairs, Deputy McGuinness told the Taoiseach that his government’s “weak and fragmented approach has failed Irish fishermen for too long and that an all-of-government strategy is now essential”.
“I put it plainly to the Taoiseach that the Irish fleet and the communities behind it cannot endure another failed December Council. The industry is already under extraordinary pressure,” he said.
“Hugely valuable mackerel stocks in the North Atlantic have collapsed due to chronic overfishing by non-EU states,” he said.
“Ireland still receives a disproportionately small share of quota in our own waters. Processing is under strain, and young people are leaving the industry. This is a crisis that demands political leadership at the highest level.”
He said that Irish officials are negotiating against large fishing interests and senior ministers that have the full backing of their respective governments.
“In contrast, Ireland will be represented by a Minister of State,” he said, referring to junior fisheries minister Timmy Dooley, who does have delegated powers.
“These negotiations shape the future of our coastal economy and carry wider consequences for Ireland’s position within the European Union. They cannot be handled in a silo,” Mr McGuinness said.
“The Taoiseach must now engage directly with his counterparts across Europe and put the full weight of government behind Ireland’s negotiating position. Coastal communities have been let down too often, and they deserve a fair outcome,” he said.
“These talks are make or break for an industry that has borne too much pain and is already on its knees. The industry and every coastal community that depends on it will be watching government actions closely in the coming days,” he added.
