-----of how difficult it is, and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will appreciate this-----

-----to get permission for a wind turbine. Failing to get permission for a wind turbine and introducing a small-scale nuclear reactor-----

-----might not be that much easier.

I have outlined the Government position but that is not to suggest that others who have an interest or some ideas on this should not interrogate the information and the ideas and look into the future as to what is available elsewhere. Of course, I am sure there are educational facilities and research projects that could be engaged by those who are like-minded. From the Government's perspective it is now about being really focused on what we need to do to deliver and not becoming distracted from that. Of course, deb…

As the Deputy said, Cabinet approved the private wires policy on 15 July, details of which have been published on the Government website. The policy allows for private wires to be developed in four scenarios: to permit private wires linking a single generation asset to a demand site; to facilitate hybrid connections; where possible to facilitate EV charging; and to allow a customer that self-supplies to provide electricity to a separate customer in a contiguous premises. Work on drafting the necessary legislation t…

Following Cabinet approval the Department will work closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to commence drafting on the Bill in the new year before seeking Oireachtas approval. The legislation will be drafted to reflect the guiding principles of the policy statement and clarify the necessary regulations to build private wires in the policies for specified use cases. Plenty of examples have been brought to my attention, some of which are in my own constituency, where there are significant constraints on…

I am very conscious of that. When there are entities and corporations that are prepared to invest their own capital in such schemes, it is an appropriate way to progress and grow our economy. We see the same in housing. It is about bringing in private capital to support infrastructure. It allows us to move more quickly and ensures that the State is not left funding all of it. For that reason, the Government is in full agreement with the Deputy that this important legislation needs to progress without delay.

As the Deputy knows, Rockall is a small, uninhabitable rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda, and 230 nautical miles to the north west of Donegal. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has not sought to claim sovereignty over Rockall. The UK claimed sovereignty over Rockall in 1955 and sought to formally annex it as part of Scotland under its 1972 Island of Rockall Act. The consistent position of successive Irish Governments has been that Ireland does not recognise Britai…

I note the Deputy's personal interest in this, as well as that of others in the area who have raised it consistently with me. It is a position that goes back to the 1955 situation and, obviously, Brexit then had a really negative effect from a fisher's perspective. On Wednesday next, I am meeting the UK Minister with responsibility for fisheries, Mr. Daniel Zeichner, and I intend to raise this in the context of a broader discussion around challenges facing our respective fishing industries. There will be other issu…

I will not be found wanting in conveying the feelings of this House. We are united on this issue. We are not always united on issues here but we are very united on trying to find a resolution to this. I am conscious that it has to be done through the diplomatic channels. I am also conscious that there are significant legacy issues and that, notwithstanding the view of some in this House that the securing of access to UK waters for the next 12 years is positive, we still have to recognise the loss of quota and the n…

I thank the Deputy for her question. Sprat is a small pelagic schooling fish that occurs inshore. Sprat is a short-lived species and an important prey fish for many marine species, those vital to the ocean food chain, as well as an important source of income for inshore fishermen. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, considers sprat to be a data-limited stock, which means that more detailed data is required to form a full understanding of the state of the stock. However, the Marine Instit…

I am aware of the Deputy's knowledge and experience in this area, and I take that on board. She is right to identify sprat as an important feeder stock for mammals, birds and other fish species in those areas she has identified. I will continue to engage with the Marine Institute with regard to the information it has and data it is capturing as part of its overall assessment of stocks in the region generally. The Deputy will be familiar with an effort made by a previous Government to look at the capture of sprat in…

The overall catch of stock has grown significantly in recent years. That indicates that there is not a major threat in the short term to the supply of sprat. However, it is my view that to continue to fish at those levels would certainly lead to a significant negative impact. I will get into the process that is under way a little later. I have to be mindful, in whatever decision is ultimately taken, that it is a proportionate response to the threat and risk to the stock and to the economic viability of the inshore …

I thank the Deputy for the question. As he knows, the operation of the fish assist scheme is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. The primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector, including inshore and island fishermen and fisherwomen, is Ireland's seafood development programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF, 2021-2027. The measures which are eligible for aid are set out in t…

As I outlined in my initial response to the Deputy, it is not possible to apportion any of the funding available to our Department through EMFAF to the income support he talks about. As he knows, and as is the case with farm assist, income support comes through the Department of Social Protection. While that does not fall within my responsibility, I am happy to have a conversation with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on that. I am also conscious that the supports that are generally available through the Department o…

I recognise that. When I was before the committee chaired by Deputy McGuinness recently, I informed it that I have asked an outside interlocutor to work with the sector generally. Mr. Kieran Mulvey has accepted the role of working with all stakeholders in the sector to identify areas where we can assist and develop a way forward or pathway as part of a strategy that the Department will develop under the programme for Government. The Department has significantly improved the financial supports available to the insho…

It is a pleasure to be back in the Seanad again. This is my second opportunity since being elected to the other House. I recall my time here with fondness. I join the Acting Chairperson in welcoming Eoghan Clonan, someone I have come to know over many years visiting this House with his dad. It is fantastic to see him with us today. I thank the Senators for seeking this opportunity for statements on fishing. I am pleased to discuss the important issues and concerns affecting the fishing sector. I reassure the Seanad…

I do. I wish to finish this piece on the EU-UK agreement. It was critically important for Ireland as we suffered disproportionately on quota transfers in the TCA and we were determined not to lose one more fish. There are people in the sector who would have liked to have had a reversal of the quota, but that was not possible. The agreement reached sees an extension of 12 years of the status quo to June 2038. This is significantly longer than the four years sought by the UK, and most importantly, does not involve th…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and all the Senators who contributed for their valuable input. As so much has been said, I will not be able to respond to each Senator individually but I will try insofar as I can, with the few minutes I have left, to cover some of the issues. Senator Blaney knows far more about fishing than I do but, by the same token, there is a lot in common between us, as others have mentioned as well. I come from a small farm and I understand the impact, particularly on the inshore sector, of the chan…

I accept that and it is something I want to look at. I cannot give any commitments. I am conscious there is a view within the industry that we are out of kilter regarding the administrative approach rather than the criminal sanction for certain elements of that. I have made a commitment to look at this but I do not want to give any commitments relating to how I might ultimately proceed on it. The work that is under way-----