Charlie McConalogue has launched a staunch defense of his work on Irish fishing.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said fishing ports like Killybegs – which is in many ways challenged and reeling from the impact of Brexit on an often troubled sector – have endless untapped potential. I believe it has potential.
The Donegal deputy has faced criticism from across the marine industry, but speaking after a public meeting in Killybegs on Thursday night, Mr McConalogue insisted his efforts stood up to analysis.
The conference, attended by around 150 people, covered a wide range of topics related to fisheries, with Ireland’s number one fishing port being the main point of contention, of course.
Some people left the meeting in protest before it began, and others left during the meeting. However, the minister declared that not everything was as it was portrayed.
“a A lot of what’s said on social media doesn’t stand up to scrutiny,” Mr McConalogue told Donegal Live.
“We found that the loudest people on social media employ all kinds of strategies to avoid having to resist their social media posts in real life.
“I took maybe six or seven questions from the floor, but for every question that came to me, there were over 100 people who had industry knowledge and were able to submit rebuttals.
“Some people are afraid because they don’t want to be exposed and can’t withstand their own scrutiny.”
Mr McConalogue was at pains to explain the strain Brexit was having on Ireland’s maritime trade, and felt Mr Killybeggs was feeling the impact more than anyone else.
Those employed off the coast of south Donegal’s ports continue to fight to make a living at sea, just like the old Tommy Makem song.
McConalogue noted that he is a staunch opponent of Brexit.
““Fortunately it hasn’t been as damaging to the Irish economy as we expected, but Killybegs has been hit hard,” he said.
“Local MP for Killybegs, Thomas Pringle, was a strong supporter of Brexit. He remembers a debate on Highland Radio where he and Gregory Campbell MP were pushing hard for Brexit.
“We’ve seen what supporting Brexit means for Killybeggs.
“We have done everything we can as a country to avoid the severe consequences of Brexit. It’s been my job for three and a half years to try to help.”
In March 2021, Minister McConalogue established the Fisheries Sector Taskforce to investigate the impact on Ireland’s fishing industry and coastal communities.
“They prepared a report and we have followed and implemented all the recommendations,” he said. “We made sure there was no dust buildup in that area.
“That Brexit Task Force recommended 13 plans to be funded through the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. I have since moved forward and delivered and implemented all 13 plans.
“In recent years, more than €33 million has been invested from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund through the processing sector to reduce the impact of quota and partnership plans on the pelagic sector.”
He said Killybegs had received “substantial grant aid”, with €33 million invested and a further €32 million going to the Killybegs Fishing Port Center, including a recent allocation of €5 million, and the Smooth Point Pier. He pointed out that the expansion work is expected to open in the second half of 2024.
Catch quotas remain a touchy subject and, in extreme cases, polarizing.
Mr McConalogue believes his position in Europe is preventing Iceland from accessing Irish waters.
“Given the fact that the access that Iceland is seeking is to Irish waters, part of EU waters, we have made it clear that if there is a negotiation, all the fish that come will have to do so.Ireland “I’m planning on coming,” he said.
“This is the bottom line for how fisheries negotiations should proceed, and we took a very hardline stance when it came to negotiations.
“Other member states were not going to agree to Ireland getting a higher quota as a result if access to Iceland increased. So I drew the line and said ‘no’. Told.
“I do not agree with any directive from the EU to negotiate with Iceland in these circumstances, as our waters and access to them must be respected. has not been concluded and the European Commission is not authorized to negotiate or conclude an agreement with Iceland.
“I gathered all the fisheries stakeholders and representatives, and we came up with a hard line on how we would approach the negotiations.”
Norway’s access to Irish waters has been reduced, “resulting in an improvement in Ireland’s allocation,” he says.
“Every year I’ve been reducing the access Norway has,” he said.
“I am working to improve the situation regarding fishing.
“We have completely removed Norway from the Irish quota. They can no longer fish within the Irish quota. We have also significantly reduced the level of blue whiting quota transfers to Norway. This means Ireland has secured an additional share of blue whiting for our fishing fleet to catch.”
He categorically denied suggestions that he had been “cheated” in negotiations over the quota of mackerel transferred from Denmark.
He said the 4,300t mackerel catch represented “a permanent allocation of additional mackerel quota to the Irish fleet, rather than a temporary quota transfer”.
He said: “There is ongoing work and engagement at European level regarding additional quotas. We have targeted the quotas that the Danes were catching. The 4,300 tonnes that could not be caught in the previous year will now be caught at Killybegs, which equates to an additional €9 million in income for Killybegs.
“The recent increase in mackerel at the Fisheries Council has ensured the first permanent increase in mackerel for Ireland since the Common Fisheries Policy was established in the 1980s. It negates what the UK has done Although it is not a real thing, it represents a continuous effort and commitment to improve the situation at every opportunity.
“As part of the final Brexit deal, we have seen 15 per cent of the quota reallocated to the UK.
“Brexit is not something I can control. I have challenged the lack of wisdom in that decision, as have many others – apart from Deputy Killybeggs, I might add.
“So when you look at Killybegs, which is at the heart of our country and the most affected fisheries, it’s really bearing the brunt.
“We have supported a large ecosystem centered around fishing and engineering, and we see further development of Killybegs as a center for future marine development, particularly in the area of renewable energy. It’s the infrastructure.”