Deputy Gallagher elected vice-chair of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs committee

Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher was elected Vice Chairperson by the members of the Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Committee following a meeting of the newly established Oireachtas Committee.

Deputy Gallagher expressed his delight at being elected and stated that massive challenges remain right across the various fishing sectors.

"Post Brexit has challenged and changed the Irish fishing industry, impacting negatively on all sectors, reduced quotas and reduced opportunities remain a problem for the catching sector and processing sectors respectively," he said.

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"While the EU-UK Agreement gives certainty to the fishing sector until 2038 for access to UK fishing grounds, it also confirms the loss of our TCA quota transfers for another 12 years. To date, Ireland has lost €225 million of quota and by 2038 that figure will be in excess of €1 billion of quota opportunities, allowing for indexation and inflation.

"The Committee will need to take an extremely active role in charting an improvement strategy for a better future. That will most definitely involve examining the role and functions of state agencies from the SFPA, BIM and Marine Institute. We must ensure that we all remain focused and determined to improve the Fishing industry, which at present is at its lowest ebb in the history of the state.

"The committee is formed at a critical time and has a massive role to play in the time ahead, I look forward to the task and role in hand, in partnership with all my colleagues we need to drive a transformative agenda for all that take their livelihoods from the sea and waters around our island."