Minister Dooley meets National Inshore Fishermen’s Association

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley T.D., met with representatives of the National Inshore Fishermen's Association (NIFA), Wednesday, 1 April, to discuss, in particular, their concerns around the effects of the US/Israel - Iran conflict on fuel prices.

Minister Dooley said:

"I listened closely to the concerns of the NIFA, and I would like to thank them for raising these issues with me. This Government has committed to maintaining support for the inshore fishing sector. The inshore fishing sector, and indeed the wider seafood sector, along with all sectors of the Irish economy, are affected by the increase in fuel costs being experienced as a result of the US/Israel - Iran conflict. The substantial scale of these increases has caused grave concerns for the entire seafood sector, and for the coastal communities which are dependent upon an active fishing fleet."

The Minister continued:

"While supports have already been put in place by this Government, I understand that the fishing sector, and especially the inshore sector, are particularly exposed to the increased cost of fuel. I explained to NIFA that this is why I strongly advocated at Monday's EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council for arrangements to be urgently put in place at EU level to support the sector. Such crisis supports are only eligible for funding under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Regulation where the EU Commission has made an Implementing Decision under Article 26, recognising the exceptional event."

Minister Dooley added:

"At the Agri-Fish meeting on Monday, I welcomed indications by European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, that work is now being undertaken to examine the development of a such an Implementing Decision and I look forward to a swift conclusion of this process. Any such Decision would then allow Ireland to consider matters further, subject to relevant funding and sanction being available at national level."

The Minister concluded:

"I also spoke to NIFA today about the working group that Minister Heydon and I have established under the auspices of Food Vision 2030. NIFA is represented on this working group. The group will consider the issues facing the Irish seafood sector, including the inshore fleet. It is also tasked with developing a framework of measures to respond to the substantial challenges in the time ahead, which may also include the challenges to the sector as result of the increase in fuel prices. I welcomed the recent submission made by NIFA to the group Chair, setting out the measures that NIFA considers necessary to respond to the challenges facing the inshore fishing sector. I look forward to receipt of the Chair's Report in the coming months so that the relevant measures can be put in place as soon as possible to support our vital seafood sector during this challenging time."