Fishing Industry
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-14
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Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF), Donegal

Our inshore fishermen are a precious part of the heritage of coastal communities and are central to the piers and harbours that we have. There is a great love for them, not just in coastal communities but also right across Ireland. It is about keeping that going by means of what would not be a huge amount of money to subsidise and support them to stay on the water. The factors involved include energy costs, weather and climate change.
As I said to the Minister of State previously, five years ago, fisherman said they just wanted to fish. They have never asked for financial supports before. This is the first time they have come to the State. I have looked at their latest updated plan and I think it is really impressive. It is really thoughtful. They are looking to work in partnership with others around how we manage the precious resource of our waters beyond fishing. I plead with the Minister of State to seek an exemption from the European Commission. Are there grounds and special circumstances to protect this special heritage? With a will, this can be done. I appeal to the Minister of State to keep that will and desire to do it and to push back on anybody within the Department or permanent government that says it cannot be done because they have failed fishermen for long enough. I know the Minister of State is trying to change, so I ask him stay on his current course.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:56+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-14