Tom Brabazon
Ceist:823. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement his Department has had with the European Union in relation to fishing quotas. [6626/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 27 January 2026
Ceisteanna (823)
Freagraí scríofa
The majority of Ireland's commercial fish stocks are shared between the EU and Third Countries, such as the UK.
The European Commission has exclusive competency to negotiate fishery agreements with Third Countries on behalf of EU Member States. The Commission operates under a mandate set by Council, and any agreement is formally adopted by Council. Ireland inputs into the development of this mandate and throughout the negotiation process, in order to raise our concerns and priorities. The share allocation of stocks between Member States was established as a principle of the first Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 1983 and was based on the average catch of each Member State over a period of reference years (track record). The only exception to this relates to the Hague Preferences, on the basis of a special recognition agreement of the underdeveloped nature of the Irish fleet and the heavy control responsibility on us when Ireland joined the EU. The Hague Preferences are additional amounts of quota that Ireland claims for a number of key stocks when the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) fall below specified levels.
Any change to the existing system of quota allocations would require a majority of Member States to agree under the qualified majority voting system. As an increase in quota for some Member States would involve a loss for some others, this poses particular challenges in a qualified majority voting context.
Ireland has consistently called for the European Commission to fully analyse and report on the impacts of Brexit on the CFP, and in particular, the impact on the EU and Member States’ fishing opportunities as a result of quota transfers under the EU-UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement.
I addressed the matter of Ireland's fishing opportunities at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in September, October, November and December, in particular, the concerns regarding the reduction in the scientific advice for Mackerel.
The Hague Preferences are negotiated annually and over the years, many Member States have objected strenuously to their application as the additional quota for Ireland comes off their allocations.
These objections have been intensifying in recent times arising from reductions in quota due to both the quota transfers under the EU-UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement and scientific advice. Regrettably, during the December Fisheries Council a group of Member States chose to block the invocation of Ireland’s Hague Preferences for 2026. The outcome of which will unfortunately result in severely reduced fishing opportunities for Irish fishermen and women in 2026.