I offer my warm words of welcome to the students from Cork. As somebody who served in this House for quite some time, I will say that the Chair kept the good wine until last. The students have come to the rarefied place where things get debated in a fulsome way. I thank Senator Noonan for raising this important issue. I know of his personal interest and his time in the Department, and how much work he did on that. I have had an opportunity to review it. The Senator was a long way along and significant credit will b…

It is clear that our objectives are aligned. We know the importance of designation of at least 30% by 2030. We come at it for the right reasons. The Senator has rightly identified that fishermen and women in particular recognise the importance of protecting these habitats. We see scientific information coming this month from ICES, which sees significant cuts to our fishing opportunities for next year, particularly in the pelagic stocks. For example, mackerel is 70%, 40% for blue whiting and 20% for boarfish and equ…

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I thank Members for their presence. I am pleased to introduce the Second Stage of the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025. At its heart, this Bill is about safeguarding public health, protecting our environment and ensuring Ireland remains a leader in delivering clean air for our people. Air pollution is a silent killer. Around 1,700 premature deaths in Ireland each year are linked directly to poor air quality. That is around ten times the number of annual road fatalities and, unfortunate…

I thank the Senators for their contributions. I appreciate their engagement. I will try to respond in the time I have available to a couple of the points that have been raised. There will be a fuller opportunity as we move to subsequent Stages to thrash out the details and, of course, any amendments that might come forward on those Stages. Senator Blaney is right about the impact it has had. As I said, and other Senators have reflected, this is about human health and the capacity of communities and citizens to live…

I will try not to use my full time because I am conscious that a number of Members want to contribute, and I will facilitate that. I thank the Deputies for seeking the opportunity for statements on fishing. It is timely considering the recent developments in the discussions and negotiations for fishing opportunities for 2026 but also as a chance to discuss other important issues and concerns affecting the fisheries sector. I will deal with the recent developments for the pelagic stock first. On 13 September, the In…

I thank Deputy Gallagher for raising this important issue. I also thank him for his guidance through this. As somebody with vast experience of the sector and an intimate knowledge at European level, he has been a source of good and wise counsel to me over recent months on this issue. He has identified the scientific advice now providing the backdrop to this and which will guide the total allowable catch for the pelagic sector for 2026, which was released on 30 September. I am acutely aware of the scale these reduct…

I thank Deputy Gallagher for his continued support. I have made it very clear to officials who negotiate on our behalf in advance of Council meetings that it cannot be business as usual. Today I instructed officials to vote against any access to blue whiting in European waters for Norway. I intend to maintain this position throughout. I accept we do not have a veto and that a blocking minority will be difficult. Notwithstanding this, we have to make it very clear, particularly as a country that will suffer most as …

I know the Deputy has a significant interest in this area. He has been in regular contact with me about the matter. As he will know, on 30 September, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea published its advice for widely distributed pelagic stocks for 2026. The ICES advice forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing total allowable catches and informs the EU's negotiating position for consultations with third countries such as the UK. As the Deputy has ide…

The Deputy is right. Over the past five years, 1 million tonnes more than advised was caught. If you go back over ten years, I believe it would be 2 million. It has been consistent. The Union has accepted it and, as a result, we are seeing destruction prevail. The word "Armageddon" has been used and it is hard not to accept that when you consider the impact on Ireland, particularly with regard to pelagic stock and the loss of 26% of our mackerel quota in the Brexit negotiations. Those negotiations were difficult an…

As the Deputy will know, a review of the Common Fisheries Policy has been initiated. That may lead to changes in time. The issue of Norway's unilateral grab of quota certainly has to be prosecuted outside of the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, DG MAREm and the discussions around fish quotas. It is often raised with me by those within the sector that, where mackerel is used as a feedstock for the production of fishmeal, it finds its way back into the European market through tariff-free salmon…

I thank Deputy Gallagher for his interest in this matter. It is something he has been in regular contact with me about both in advance of the scientific advice being released and since then. I know, in particular, of his interest in the Killybegs area and the significant shock this will bring to the community of Killybegs, not just to those directly involved in the processing and catching sectors but also to all of the ancillary businesses that make up the ecosystem around the sector. In the first instance, I have …

I fully concur with the Deputy's analysis and vast experience. His name is regularly mentioned at the Council and in the European Parliament regarding the interest he has had not just for the Irish fishing sector but also for the sector at a wider European level. His insights were of particular importance. He is right in identifying that the fishing sector paid a particular price with the transfer of 26% of the mackerel quota for continued access to EU waters. There was a cut based on scientific information last ye…

I am conscious of the economic impact on our coastal communities. In successive programmes for Government, we set out a desire to continue to support coastal communities. The Deputy is right; it is through allowing fishers to catch and process fish that we support those communities. I will have to be guided by the scientific advice, as other Ministers have been previously. I know the sector does not want handouts or supports. We will have to look at a framework by means of which we can support the communities and s…

I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this issue. I know of his great interest in the angling sector. He is passionate about this issue and it is very close to his heart. He has had a number of discussions with me about angling, generally. I must begin by putting on the record that operational matters such as this are the preserve of IFI. I have no direct capacity to force it to do anything other than follow its duties. It does not fall to the Minister in this regard. I have been in discussion with IFI to try to unde…

I understand the anglers' perspective, but IFI is charged with the conservation of the Atlantic salmon stock. It is conscious of the protection and preservation of that species in all its forms. There is a concern that once the stock is above the conservation limit, it is not justified. At the time it was there before the conservation limit was under pressure, there was also an exercise in trying to understand the patterns of return. That was a separate project which is no longer relevant from IFI's perspective. Kn…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. As Minister of State with responsibility for marine in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, I am pleased to announce that I have secured a significant budget of almost €158 million to support the fisheries sector for 2026. This funding will continue to provide support across capital infrastructure projects in our fishery harbour centres and the seafood development programme as well as supporting the excellent work being carried out by our …

That is a change of heart there.

I appreciate the Deputy's question. Ireland engages with the US across a broad range of multilateral energy forums, from the United Nations and the G20, where Ireland is a guest country under the current South African Presidency, to the IEA and IRENA. While respecting different policy emphases regarding, for example, energy mix and the role of renewables in particular, we also enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship with United States colleagues on issues related to energy and beyond. In relation to gas specifica…

The Government's intention on the installation of a facility like the floating LNG facility that is proposed is that it is being led by the State rather than a commercial entity. It is being done in a controlled manner that will, as I outlined in the earlier answer, allow us to protect a critical supply in the event of anything happening to the two interconnectors or indeed the subsea pipeline which connects the Corrib field. It is a protection system and will not increase the usage of gas. Those of us who believe …

In addition to our support for the renewable energy sector, particularly with wind and solar, we are also enhancing our support for biogas. The Deputy will know that the Government has a strategy on that. We will see seven or eight projects in the very near future coming into play for that biogas system through the anaerobic digestion system. We are absolutely committed to eliminating, insofar and as quickly as we possibly can, the dependence on fossil fuels to power our economy, while also recognising that our eco…