The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs is convening on Tuesday, October 21, at 11 a.m. in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House to address the critical issues surrounding capital and infrastructure for fishing ports and harbours. This meeting will comprise two sessions featuring discussions with various stakeholders.
The morning agenda begins with presentations from significant organizations including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Seafood Ireland Alliance, Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation, and the National Inshore Fishermen’s Association at 11 a.m. Following this, at 12:20 p.m., representatives from the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) will contribute to the discussion.
Committee Cathaoirleach Conor McGuinness has expressed his enthusiasm for focusing on infrastructure investment, emphasizing concerns about inadequate regional investment in ports and harbours managed by local authorities. He specifically highlighted the situation at Cé Heilbhic (Helvick) in County Waterford, where local fishermen and the RNLI lifeboat are frequently hindered due to silting issues.
Currently, the Department of Agriculture and local authorities oversee 20 fishing ports and harbours across Ireland, with the DAFM managing six large fishery harbour centres and local councils handling 14 smaller ones. The upcoming Budget 2026 allocates €157.7 million to bolster the fisheries sector, with capital infrastructure improvements in Fishery Harbour Centres earmarked as a priority.
Significant points for discussion during the meeting include the prioritization of infrastructure and capital development for operators and user organizations, the dynamics between management and users at harbours, and the funding disparities between the six largest state harbours and their smaller counterparts. Additionally, the committee will delve into the future strategies of the RNLI operating at these harbours and the necessary conditions to effectively implement these strategies.
The committee urges engagement and looks forward to robust discussions on these pressing issues with stakeholders. The session will be accessible live via Oireachtas TV, with additional viewing options available through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App for both Apple and Android devices.
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