Published: Wed, 19 September 2018
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MEP for Ireland South and Fine Gael Spokesperson on Fisheries in the European Parliament, Seán Kelly, has welcomed a delegation from the European Parliament’s fisheries committee to Co. Cork to meet with Irish fishing communities this week. Mr. Kelly, who is the leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament, hosted MEPs from Germany, Italy and the UK in order to highlight the concerns of the Irish fisheries sector to EU decision makers.
Speaking from Clonakilty today (Wednesday), Mr. Kelly made the following comments:
“It is imperative that my colleagues in the European Parliament are aware of the challenges faced by the Irish fishing sector, particularly now as Brexit approaches and as the new EU budget is formulated”
“The impact of the Common Fisheries Policy will be increasingly important to Irish citizens particularly post-Brexit, so this visit was an excellent opportunity for stakeholders to share their concerns with the delegation. I am very pleased with the engagement and dialogue we have had over the last couple of days.”
“My colleagues were extremely interested to meet with representatives of the Irish fisheries sector. As a member of the Parliament’s Fisheries Committee I am very proud to represent the interests of Ireland’s fisher people and coastal communities at EU level, and I look forward to reporting back to the Parliament on what has been a most valuable and constructive mission”, he concluded.
The delegation was joined by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed on their arrival to Cork city hall on Monday. The MEPs were then given a warm welcome in Cork’s English Market, before meeting expert researchers at the UCC Aquaculture & Fisheries Development Centre.
Over the course of the week, the EU officials visited Castletownbere and Clonakilty, where local fishers, cooperatives, and other stakeholders in the Irish fisheries and seafood industries shared their perspectives with the group.
