Inshore Fisheries
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-09
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Conor D. McGuinness (SF), Waterford

I expected that the Minister of State would refer to state aid rules and how they might prevent this, but I do not believe that argument stands up. I acknowledge the work of NIFA and the inshore sector in producing these reports. NIFA has appeared before the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs and has been engaging with Deputy Mac Lochlainn and others for a long time. The truth is that the industry is in crisis and has been under pressure for many years. There is a level of deterioration. The Minister of State knows the European Commission can approve a derogation from state aid rules. It has done so for the vessel fuel supports and in many other cases. I believe if this were affecting another primary producing sector and impacting dairy, tillage or beef production, the Government would already have sought that derogation. However, because it involves fishermen, and the inshore sector in particular, the Minister of States is pre-empting what the Commission may say to us if we were to ask. He must not hide behind what the Commission may say. Instead, he needs to argue and make the case for a derogation from state aid rules in order that this urgent financial assistance can be provided. If that means declaring an emergency and owning up to the fact that the fisheries sector is in crisis, then let us do that.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-09