Fishing Industry

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]

150. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concerns conveyed by the operators of charter boats about the three-bag limit on pollock planned for this year; and if he and his Department will engage with the sector to address those concerns. [21009/26]

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]

282. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport to outline what he and his Department can do to assist more persons to obtain an able body seaman ticket and build a career in offshore fishing when they are struggling to acquire the necessary sea time records. [14446/26]

332. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the laws and regulations governing the disposal of waste and rubbish by trawlers and fishing trawlers into Irish sea; in particular, the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms that are in place to ensure compliance; the penalties that exist for vessels found to be illegally dumping waste at sea; to outline any re…

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 [14…

291. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the proposed Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations for 2026 will alter the licence conditions applicable to traditionally licensed draft-net fishermen; whether such licence holders will be permitted to operate on the same basis as in the 2025 season; the consultation that…

313. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the deployment of towed array sonar; whether it is compatible with existing vessels; or if new vessels will be needed to facilitate this new technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9263/26]

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; an…

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. [1018…

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 Justi…

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 fo…

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 equita…

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 clai…

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 …

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]

204. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which his Department monitors working conditions, pay and accommodation for non-EU crew members on Irish-registered vessels operating in inshore fisheries; the way in which this monitoring is coordinated with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Workplace Relations Commission; and if he will make a st…

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 licencehol…

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 f…

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; …