Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2022
181. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the huge increase in the running cost for fishermen in relation to the cost of their fishing vessels over the past year; and the financial supports or interventions he plans to make to address this. [7102/22]
View answerI am acutely aware of the increases in the costs of doing business over the past year, for fishers, farmers and indeed across all sectors of our economy and society. The Deputy will be aware that the Government is currently carrying out a widespread review to consider what steps it can take in the short term to alleviate some of the inflationary pressure which households and businesses are presently experiencing.
My Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Programme 2014-20 is the principal source of financial support funding for our seafood sector. The Programme is almost at an end, with a new Programme being developed at present. Article 25 of the EMFF Regulation (508/2014) precludes me from providing supports for operational costs.
