Vessels over 18 m continue to pair-trawl in inshore waters. They are allowed to do so due to the High Court overturning the policy directive in October 2020. We know this type of fishing is highly inappropriate. It not only damages the marine environment, but it also directly impacts on inshore fishers' livelihoods and tourism activities due to the reduction in stocks. Over two years later, this matter remains with the court.

I have previously called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to restart the process and establish another policy directive which, at this stage, would have taken less time than the legal route. I ask the Tánaiste to initiate that policy directive in order to address the matter urgently. In the meantime, I encourage the Tánaiste and Minister to look at existing instruments which could be used to restrict these harmful practices. It has come to my attention that the port of Bantry Bay bylaws prohibit trawling in the bay. If that law was enforced, it could make a significant impact in that particular bay in west Cork. Perhaps we could look at other things in the interim. Over the past week there has been damaging trawling in our waters in west Cork.

I agree with the Deputy. What is going on is shocking and its impacts are very damaging. It should not be happening. We have to await the outcome of the High Court case, not least to inform the best direction of travel in terms of legislation and the policy that prohibits this.

The court case was lost on a technicality.

Let the Tánaiste respond.

There is nothing wrong with the policy.

I know.

In my view, and I have spoken to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine about this, it is too long. It has gone on for a long time - too long, from our perspective. I will engage with the Minister to see if there is anything we can do in the interim, given the legal context.