Questions

120. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on oyster reef restoration initiatives supported by his Department, including the restoration project off Dún Laoghaire; the objectives of that project in terms of marine biodiversity and fisheries habitat enhancement; and whether consideration is being given to supporting further oyster restoration project…

137. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the strategy, if any, the Government has in place to seek the restoration of the Hague Preferences for Ireland in advance of the forthcoming review due in December 2026; the engagement that has taken place at EU level on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20730/26]

144. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the Government’s plan to advance the demand from our fishing and seafood industry for fairness from the Common Fisheries Policy, and reform, during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. [20936/26]

1452. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a detailed up-to-date report on pair trawling (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19602/26]

470. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will designate Greencastle Harbour, County Donegal as a pelagic landing port for catches over ten tonnes. [18164/26]

214. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he last met formally with the Chairperson of Sea Fisheries Protection Authority; and the topics discussed. [15446/26]

824. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the ‘North Irish Sea Interim Razor Fishery Management Plan’ proposal, which was submitted by members of the fishing community in July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14472/26]

831. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of monitoring and inspections that has taken place of the large EU and UK registered pelagic freezer trawlers operating off the Irish coast during January and early February of 2026 targeting horse mackerel and other species; and the landings made by these vessels including bycatches of boarfish [14841/26]

877. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action being taken to address the most recent cuts to Ireland's fishing quotas, following on from previous cuts of 26% in 2024 as a result of Brexit, and 22% in 2025; if he accepts that these cuts will have a devastating impact on the Irish fishing fleet and processors, especially the inland fisheries sector; and if he will make a …

892. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a mussel seed fishery will be opened (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9826/26]

895. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details on the level of monitoring and inspections of the large EU registered pelagic freezer trawlers Dutch owned operating off the Irish coast before Christmas 2025, and targeting horse mackerel, which has taken place; and the landings made by these vessels including bycatches of boarfish. [10189/26]

15. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the urgent actions he is taking, at EU and Council level, to reverse or challenge the severe loss of approximately 57,000 tonnes of Irish fishing quota for 2026, representing an estimated €94 million blow to the Irish fishing sector; whether he plans to initiate or support legal action at the European Court of Justice to defend Ireland…

43. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the emergency supports his Department will provide to the Irish fishing and seafood sector in view of the drastic reductions to the 2026 total allowable catches, including the proposed seventy percent cut to the mackerel quota and reductions in other key species, which industry leaders have described as catastrophic for coastal communitie…

61. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to engage with his European Union counterparts in view of the decision by France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland to block the invocation of the Hague preferences by Ireland at the December Fisheries Council; and his plans regarding the common fisheries policy (details supplied). [6529/26]

65. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions his Department is taking at European Union level to challenge the overfishing of shared migratory stocks such as mackerel by certain non-European Union coastal states, which scientific advice identifies as a major factor in current stock pressures; if he will report on any progress in securing a more equitable quota-sharing ar…

71. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns raised by fishing communities regarding the increasing presence of large foreign vessels operating off the Irish coast, while Irish boats remain tied up due to limited quotas; whether he will commit to immediate measures to restore Ireland’s capacity to fish its own waters in view of claims that Irish fisher…

79. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to address the acknowledged overfishing of mackerel by non-EU coastal States, which has directly contributed to sharp quota reductions for Irish fishers in 2026; and whether he will provide details of Ireland’s engagement with the European Commission and coastal states to safeguard this stock and prevent a repeat…

80. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the terms of reference for the fisheries taskforce will be made available; the steps he is taking to ensure the inshore sector have an equal voice on that taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7008/26]

780. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the five-year management plan for a cockle fishery (details supplied); the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in setting harvest limits; the way in which the requirement to maintain food resources for overwintering birds is balanced with the socioeconomic needs of the 28 licenceholders; and if he will…

803. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has assessed the impact on long-standing Irish vessels and crews in the razor clam fishery of alleged chronic overfishing, under-enforcement, and unfair competition from vessels using low-paid non-EU crews; the specific supports or structural measures he is considering to sustain indigenous operators in this fishery; and if he wi…

804. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the current management plan for the razor clam fishery on the north-east coast is being adhered to in practice; the total annual tonnage recommended by the Marine Institute for this fishery for each of the past five years; the total tonnage actually recorded as landed in each of those years; and if he will make …

807. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has examined the use of Irish-registered companies as vehicles to acquire Irish-registered fishing vessels and licences on behalf of non-EU or non-EEA nationals; if any risk assessment or review has been carried out on whether this practice complies with EU and national rules on ownership and control of fishing licenc…

812. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of reports from local fishermen of declining razor clam size and abundance between Dublin Bay and Carlingford Lough, if he will publish the most recent Marine Institute survey results for this fishery; the details of any advice to reduce total allowable removals; the emergency or precautionary measures he is considering to pre…

816. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assessment which has been made of the employment supported by the inshore fishing sector, including onshore jobs in coastal communities; the way in which the Government plans to safeguard this employment in the context of climate change and economic pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6614/26]

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]